By Will Vandervort.

By Will Vandervort

DURHAM, N.C. – At first the night did not start out too well for Clemson pitcher Zack Erwin. He walked two of the first three batters he faced, and then he gave up an RBI single to Cody Stubbs a few batters later.

But after that everything kind of fell into place for the freshman. Over the next 4 1/3 innings, the Tar Heels managed only one more run and four hits as the lefty controlled the game and put his team into position to win.

It wasn’t an easy task. Seven of North Carolina’s nine starters were hitting .300 or better coming into the game. Included in that lineup, ACC Player of the Year Colin Moran, who has 13 home runs and 84 RBIs.

“Zack did a good job. A really, really good job,” Clemson head coach Jack Leggett said. “He gave up a couple of walks in the first inning and that will come back to haunt you a little bit so they grabbed one right there. After that, he pitched really well.

“They are a team that if you put too many guys on base, they are going to take advantage of it. They have enough speed, bunters and guys that can hit-and-run that you have to minimize those opportunities.

“He did a really good job of that.”

Erwin was one of five freshmen to contribute for the Tigers in their 14-inning tussle in the ACC Tournament Friday night. Though Clemson eventually lost the game, 12-7, the promise the freshmen showed against one of the best teams in the country shows were the program is headed in the future.

Getting only his fourth start of the season in left field, freshman Mike Triller gave Clemson a definite spark in the lineup at the No. 9 spot. He finished the night 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs, including a two-run single in the sixth inning for a 5-2 lead.

Triller got the start over Tyler Slaton in left field due to the sophomore’s 4-for-48 slump over the last month.

“Coach (Leggett) gave me my opportunity today, and I just went out there and gave it my best,” Triller said. “I got a couple of hits and I was trying to do whatever I could to help the team.”

Right fielder Steven Duggar helped the Tigers (39-19) with a triple to left-centerfield, which scored two runs to give Clemson a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. As mentioned Triller than singled home two runs in the sixth inning, while designated hitter Maleeke Gibson brought home a run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In all, six of Clemson’s seven runs against the Tar Heels came from freshmen. Freshman shortstop Tyler Krieger had an RBI hit in the bottom of the fourth inning to help score the Tigers first run.

“They are a bunch of good players,” Leggett said. “They know how to win. They know how to practice to win and they know how to compete.”

Of Clemson’s 11 hits against the Tar Heels, six came from the freshman class.

“They all have a great future,” Leggett said. “I’m excited about the development they have made so far and they have gotten a lot better.”