CLEMSON, SC - Can you say deja vu all over again? Just like Friday night, closer Lucas Mahlstedt came into the game 4 outs away from breaking the Clemson single-season save record and putting the Tigers into the Regional Final. And just like Friday, he blew the record-setting save on his first pitch. On Friday, it was a HR to tie the game. On Saturday, it was a game-tying double. Unlike Friday, however, Mahlstedt gave up 4 more runs in the 9th and got a loss instead of a win. It seems like ever since Mahlstedt tied the Clemson single-season save record a month ago, he has been cursed. He was one strike away from breaking it in Tallahassee but gave up a double and a single to send the game to extra innings. Since he tied the record, he has blown 3 saves and has 3 wins and a loss out of the pen! The Tigers would actually bring the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th against West Virginia on Saturday, loading the bases with 2 outs, but they stranded them loaded.
Sunday also felt like deja vu for the Tigers. Two years ago, they lost a heartbreaker in 13 innings late Saturday night and had to play at 11:00 the next morning. Not surprisingly, they were eliminated in that game. This time, it was even worse. The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead early on Kentucky but were outscored 16-2 the rest of the way!
For the third straight year, the Tigers were oh so close but came up short. Last year, it was against Florida in game one of the Super Regional. The Tigers used to be unbeatable at home in the NCAA Tournament, but they have now been eliminated at home 6 times in the last 10 years! They have won one regional and lost 5 over that period of time. Doug Kingsmore is one of the most electric environments in all of college baseball, and there were over 6,000 fans in attendance on Friday and Saturday night, so it's hard to imagine the aforementioned trend.
I love Bakich, and he has the program moving in the right direction, but he might need a new pitching coach. Over that 10-year span, pitching has been the weakness time and time again. Hopefully, the Bakich will finally be able to get them back to Omaha next year!
Post-game interviews are below.
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