In May of last year, Clemson University dismissed Monte Lee after he failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the second time. This decision had a ripple effect on their biggest rival, the University of South Carolina, which was also in dire need of a fresh start after suffering its first losing season since 1996. To improve their roster, South Carolina turned to the transfer portal and successfully secured commitments from three former Clemson players, outfielder Brewer on June 6, catcher French on June 15, and pitcher Williams on June 22.
Now, in 2023, Clemson has hired Erick Bakich from the University of Michigan. As we previously mentioned in an article, Clemson’s upcoming series against South Carolina is a must-win situation for them. With a current record of 4-4, Clemson has been struggling to regain momentum after falling behind in games, and their pitching staff is also facing some challenges. Despite being in the early stages of the 2023 season, Clemson has yet to establish its identity, which is more of a mental than a physical issue. Clemson is making too many small mistakes, such as swinging at bad pitches or making errors in the field.
As they face off against a nationally ranked South Carolina(9-0) baseball team, Clemson cannot afford to make any mistakes. Coach Bakich always stresses the importance of paying attention to details, and this is where Clemson needs to focus their efforts.
The series kicks off at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson on Friday, March 3rd at 6 pm, followed by a game at Flour Field in Greenville on Saturday, March 4th at 2 pm. The final game will take place at Founders Park in Columbia on Sunday, March 5th at 1:30 pm, concluding the series.
