After closing the regular season with a crucial three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, Clemson baseball enters the 2025 ACC Tournament with significant work ahead to secure a coveted top-8 national seed for the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers finished the regular season with an impressive 41-15 overall record and an 18-12 mark in ACC play. However, they enter the conference tournament as the No. 5 seed after a tumultuous stretch that saw them lose eight of their last ten games before the Pittsburgh series.
Regular Season Rollercoaster
Clemson’s 2025 campaign has been a tale of two seasons. The Tigers began the year in dominant fashion, winning their first ten series and climbing as high as No. 2 in the national rankings. Their early-season resume included series victories over ranked opponents such as Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, and Louisville, along with a clean sweep of rival South Carolina.
Clemson was the only team in the ACC to win all conference series in the first two months, underscoring their consistency and dominance early in the season. Additionally, the Tigers tied for the most combined Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins in the regular season with 23, further highlighting their strong performance against quality opponents.
However, the Tigers hit a significant rough patch down the stretch. A brutal three-game sweep at the hands of NC State in late April marked the beginning of a slide that saw Clemson drop from the top of the ACC standings to fifth place by season’s end.
Tournament Path and Stakes
The 2025 ACC Tournament will begin Tuesday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park and will feature a new 16-team single-elimination format. As the fifth seed, Clemson receives a first-round bye and will face either 12th-seeded Virginia Tech or 13th-seeded Stanford on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET.
Should the Tigers advance, they will face fourth-seeded NC State in Thursday’s quarterfinals—the same Wolfpack team that swept them during the regular season.
To secure a top-8 national seed in the NCAA Tournament—which would guarantee home-field advantage through both Regional and Super Regional rounds—Clemson likely needs to make a deep run in Durham.
Strengths to Build On
Despite their late-season struggles, Clemson enters the tournament with several strengths. The Tigers’ bullpen has been exceptional, compiling a 26-4 record with 20 saves. Closer Lucas Mahlstedt has tied the Clemson single-season record with 15 saves while maintaining a stellar 1.88 ERA and 53 strikeouts against just five walks in 38.1 innings pitched.
Junior outfielder Cam Cannarella, a Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List selection, leads the offense with a .314 batting average, 16 doubles, 38 RBIs, and 48 runs scored. His plate discipline has been exceptional, drawing 46 walks against just 35 strikeouts.
The Tigers’ offense has also shown a knack for manufacturing runs, setting a school record with 91 hit-by-pitches this season.
RPI Considerations
Clemson currently sits at No. 14 in the RPI rankings, down from their top-10 position earlier in the season. Their strength of schedule ranks 15th nationally, bolstered by a 23-3 record in non-conference play.
To climb back into top-8 seed consideration, the Tigers will need to demonstrate they’ve regained their early-season form. A quarterfinal victory over NC State would be particularly valuable, as it would both avenge their regular season sweep and provide a quality win against a top-25 opponent.
Clemson Baseball History under Erik Bakich
Clemson has recent success in the ACC Tournament to draw upon, having won the championship in 2023 during Erik Bakich’s first season as head coach. That experience could prove valuable as they navigate this year’s single-elimination format.
Bakich, now in his third season with the program, has compiled an impressive 126-50 record at Clemson, including a 55-32 record in ACC play. His teams have made the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons, including a Super Regional appearance in 2024.
Before joining Clemson, Bakich spent ten seasons at Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to the College World Series championship series in 2019. His career record stands at 524-364-1 over 16 seasons, including prior stops at Maryland (2010-12) and Michigan (2013-22).
Bottom Line
With the NCAA Tournament selection committee set to announce the field shortly after the conclusion of conference tournaments, Clemson’s performance in Durham will heavily influence their seeding. While their overall body of work remains impressive, the late-season slide has jeopardized their top-8 seed prospects.
A deep run in the ACC Tournament—particularly one that includes a victory over NC State—would significantly strengthen their case. An early exit, however, could see the Tigers fall out of top-8 consideration entirely, forcing them to potentially go on the road for Super Regionals should they advance that far.
The path is clear but challenging: win multiple games in Durham, and Clemson can reclaim their position among the nation’s elite as the NCAA Tournament approaches.
