DURHAM, N.C. — Prior to the ACC Championships, Mike Triller had played in 21 games and had 25 official at-bats. He was not having the kind of season he was hoping for when the 2016 season started. The graduate student was hitting just .160 with four hits heading into the championships.

But when his number was called in the Tigers’ series finale at Notre Dame last weekend, Triller was ready to contribute in any way he could for his team. And he did.

“You have to stay ready and stick to the plan,” Triller said following Clemson’s 18-13 victory over Florida State on Sunday at Durham Bulls’ Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. “Don’t give up on it because at any second someone can get hurt and you could have a couple of good at-bats and can get thrown into the game.

“You never know, so always stay ready, always stay relaxed and always stay loose.”

Triller was all three of those in wins over Virginia, Wake Forest and Florida State in the ACC Championships this week. He was especially ready, relaxed and loose in Sunday’s ACC Championship Game against the Seminoles.

Triller had three hits in the championship game, including two doubles. He finished the tournament 6-for-13 with two home runs, three doubles, four RBIs and five runs scored on his way to being named ACC Tournament MVP.

“I had no idea I could be tournament MVP, but I knew I would get a shot to play on Thursday and I just took it pitch to pitch and at-bat to at-bat. I was just trying to have at quality at-bats and see the baseball,” Triller said. “My swing had been working kind of up the middle and away. I was just trying to take balls and shoot them that way, so I was happy I was just able to contribute.”

Though he was frustrated when he was struggling earlier in the year, Triller did not give up. He continued to work so when his number was called, again, he would be ready to help the Tigers.

“I was inconsistent. I had struck out a lot. I was not able to get in, but I started to figure a couple of things out later on this year,” he said. “I’m happy I was able to have a little more consistent kind of swing and I was able to see the ball better and work from there.”

Triller isn’t a guy that likes to pull the ball. He likes to stay up the middle and work away. So he concentrated on his strengths and did not try to do too much with what he was seeing at the plate.

“I can take advantage of those pitches, just swinging at strikes and see balls up and not chasing pitches,” he said.

Some of the ACC’s best pitchers had no idea on how to pitch to him in the tournament as he had home runs against Virginia and Wake Forest and totaled 15 bases in the three games he played in.

“I know a lot of times pitchers try to work away so I was like if my swing is working well, I’m just going to try to work up the middle and work away, and just see how it goes from there,” Triller said. “There was not much of a scouting report on me and I think you can say I took advantage of it a little bit.”

Triller says this past week in Durham will be something he will remember the rest of his life and every time he sees his MVP trophy sitting on the mantle.

“It is going to be special. I’m going to remember the guys I went to war with and it is going to be real special,” he said. “It is something that you only dream about. It feels like a dream, but you soak it in and I will always remember this time.”

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