After a 4-2 loss in the first game of the series, the Clemson Tigers faced the UCF Knights with the hope of bouncing back. Unfortunately, the Tigers struggled to find their rhythm early in the game, and UCF capitalized on their sluggish start to take a 2-0 lead after three innings. Despite the early setback, the Tigers fought back and managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning. However, UCF responded with four runs in the eighth inning to seal a 10-7 victory over the Tigers.
The Tigers’ slow start can be attributed to a lack of enthusiasm and energy, which was apparent in the first few innings. UCF took advantage of this, with Drew Faurot and John Rhys Plumlee hitting two home runs in the second and third innings, respectively. By the end of the third inning, the Tigers found themselves down by two runs, and things looked bleak.
The Tigers finally managed to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. A double by Ben Blackwell and a walk by Chad Fairey set the stage for a groundout by Riley Bertran that brought Blackwell home. This cut UCF’s lead to one run, and the Tigers had their sights set on making a comeback.
The game became a back-and-forth battle in the fifth inning, with both teams scoring four runs apiece. Clemson tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning with a sac fly from Blake Wright that scored Caden Grice.
In the fifth inning, Clemson managed to take the lead by scoring a run off a sac fly hit by Wright to the right field, allowing Grice to cross the home plate and putting Clemson ahead 6-5.
The Tigers’ lead was short-lived, however, as UCF put up four runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Tigers managed to score one more run in the ninth inning, but it was not enough to overcome UCF’s late surge. Despite the loss, Coach Erik Bakinch remained optimistic and focused on the positives.
Coach Bakich emphasized the team’s resilience and ability to come back from a deficit, which will be crucial going forward. He acknowledged that the team made mistakes but highlighted the positives, such as their ability to compete and fight back. He also mentioned that there is a lot to learn from the game, and the team will work hard to improve and bounce back in the series finale on Sunday.
Although the Tigers fell short against UCF, the game was a valuable learning experience for the team. It showcased their resilience and ability to compete, even when facing setbacks. As they move forward, the Tigers will use this game as motivation to improve and continue their pursuit of success.
