CLEMSON, SC - What a game! The Tigers beat Upstate 7-0 in Greenville back in early March for the first of their two shutouts this season, but their offense struggled early in that game against starting pitcher Amp Phillips. He was even more impressive on Friday night, shutting the Tigers out for the first 4 innings. However, they finally broke through in the 5th. Freshman TP Wentworth hit a leadoff single, followed by a full-count walk by Ciufo. Leadoff man Cam, who was 0-2, doubled down the 3rd base line to tie the game and send the crowd of 6,046 into a frenzy. He tagged to 3rd on a fly by Purify, and Priest hit a sac fly to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
The Tigers capitalized on the momentum they got in the top of the 5th, thanks to Jacob McGovern. Titsworth loaded the bases with no outs, but McGovern came in from the pen and got two K's and a diving catch by Listi in left to drive the crowd crazy, and the offense immediately responded with 3 runs.
McGovern had his best outing of the season, but Bakich decided to bring closer Mahlstedt in with the bases empty and one out in the 8th. It was a tough decision for Bakich, I'm sure, but I would have stayed with the hot hand and kept McGovern in until he at least gave up a base runner. The decision backfired on Bakich, as Mahlstedt gave up a HR on his first pitch to tie the game! I guess Mahlstedt doesn't want to break the Clemson single-season save record. He tied it a month ago and has blown 2 saves since with 3 wins out of the pen!
The offense responded immediately in the bottom of the 8th with a big RBI single by Wentworth. The freshman has really emerged here late in the season. He had a good ACC Tournament and a big game to start the regional. He has just 11 hit this season but 7 RBI's!
I called for a squeeze play in the press box, and that's exactly what we got. Ciufo, who has become a deadly bunter, sac bunted in an insurance run on a safety squeeze to make it 5-3. Enter Cam Cannarella. He loves the big moment, like his earlier 2-run double to tie the game, and he crushed a 2-out, 2-run HR to make it 7-3! He finished 3-5 with 4 RBI's after starting the game 0-2.
The Tigers will play West Virginia, which beat Kentucky on a walk-off single, at 6:00 on Saturday night. Post-game interviews are below!
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