By Will Vandervort
There is a good explanation on why 17th-ranked Clemson has won seven straight games.
“I feel like we are really excited to play every night,” shortstop Tyler Krieger said. “I love coming to the ballpark and seeing everyone in the clubhouse and coming out and playing. That’s something I look forward to. It has been good for us.”
The Tigers look to continue that excitement to night when they open up a three-game series against ACC rival Wake Forest (18-17, 4-11 ACC) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium starting at 6:30.
“It has given us some confidence,” Clemson head coach Jack Leggett said about the win streak. “We have been in some tough games, some close games. Last night, tonight and the 1-0 game against Boston College (on Sunday). Now that’s not so good for me, but it is good for us in the long run and will help us down the road.
“It is always better when you come out on the positive side of it.”
Clemson’s win streak and confidence started building momentum when it found a way to win the third game of the North Carolina series on April 1. The Tigers trailed 3-1 before rallying late to take the lead and then holding off top-ranked UNC in the bottom of the eighth, ninth and 10th innings with the winning run in scoring position.
Clemson (23-11, 9-6 ACC) picked up a run in the top of the 11th and then again held the tying and winning runs at second and third to begin the streak with a 5-4 victory. Since then, they beat Gardner-Webb, swept Boston College in a three-game series, picked up three runs in the top of the ninth to beat Western Carolina and then got a game-ending hit by Krieger on Wednesday to take down Presbyterian.
During the seven-game winning streak the Tigers have won three of them by one run, and all three have come in different facets, whether it has been pitching, clutch defense or timely hitting from an upper classman or a freshman.
“It takes everybody to win, whether you are old and have experience or you are young and don’t have much experience. They’re growing up now,” Leggett said.
And that starts with their approach.
“It has been good for our confidence, but at the same time I think what we have done really well, we take it one game at a time,” Krieger said. “We are going to come out here focused on the next game and not worry about the streak of seven wins.
“We are going to focus on getting eight and not worry about nine, ten or so on.”
Leggett says he only wants his team to focus on getting better and improve on the things they need to work on. If they do that, then the wins will take care of themselves.
“I like our battle. I like our grit. I like the way we hang in there,” the Clemson coach said. “We are getting a little tougher and getting a little bit more experienced every time out. I like that part of it. We have a big weekend and now we have to concentrate on doing that against Wake Forest.”
And that means staying consistent in everything they do at the plate, on the mound and in the field.
“Anytime you start winning seven in a row, you are playing a little more consistent and things are coming together for you so we just have to keep on working at it,” Leggett said. “You need to work on the things and harp on the things that we have to get better at it, while compliment and continue to do the things we are doing well right now. We are getting better.”
And they’re winning, too.