Clemson Baseball Opens ACC Play with a Split Doubleheader

The Clemson Tigers continue hot streak, split doubleheader against a solid Duke team

Clemson came into play Saturday riding a season-high 6-game win streak and looked to ride that momentum against ACC conference foe Duke. Clemson fans will acknowledge that this team wasn't going undefeated the rest of the way. What's expected is to at least be competitive in their matchups each and every time they take the field. That was undoubtedly accomplished yesterday.

Game 1 started out well as Clemson jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning but the offense sputtered from there as that was the last run scored of the game. A big 3-run inning in the top of the 5th for the Blue Devils was all that was needed in order to ride those runs all the way to victory.

Game two was where the Tigers had to respond. Losing one game by one run after a 6-game win streak isn't anything to be ashamed of, but can you stop the bleeding quickly and rebound to not lose the series? The offense was certainly ready for that task, as they came out of the gates swinging (literally) and opening with a 3-0 lead going into the second frame. This was not a game, however, that would be decided in one inning as both teams had clearly settled in from the earlier game and were now comfortable whenever they stepped in the box. Like a boxing match, this game went back and forth for the first few rounds with Duke taking a lead at 5-4 going into the bottom of the 3rd. 

Clemson will go for the series win against Duke on Sunday

This is where the Tigers made their mark on the game. Caden Grice and Cam Cannarella both came up with RBI doubles to take the lead back for good on the team's way to scoring 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning. The bats stayed hot as they followed it up with 4 the next inning. Following that run, the game was never within reach for Duke again.

That 2-inning stretch sets the Tigers up to win a series-clinching game 3 on Sunday. They are already at 12-4 at home on the year so home-field advantage has proven to be a big boost so far. Head coach Bakich said following the game, "We got a good rubber match tomorrow and I know we'll be ready for it."