Carson Spiers is embracing pressure and doing so in an assertive way.
The right-handed sophomore picked up his first career save Saturday night in 12th-ranked Clemson’s 7-6 victory over William & Mary at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson.
After pitching a scoreless eighth inning in Friday night’s win, Spiers took the mound in Game 2 of the three-game series with one out in the eighth after William & Mary scored three runs to shorten what was a four-run lead to one.
With a runner on, Spiers was able to get Jason Waldman to fly out to left field and Owen Socher to go down looking to end the potential threat.
He returned to the mound in the ninth inning and pitched a clean three up-and-three-down inning with ease to secure the Tigers’ victory.
“My stuff tonight was on,” Spiers said after the game. “I felt good. My fastball was moving a little bit and then the last pitch of the game was my slider. I just felt like that was the pitch to go with. So I swiped to it and we went with it. Coach (Andrew) See was all for it and it worked out.”
Ryley Gilliam has been said to be one of the best closers in the nation. However, on Saturday, when the game was on the line, Spiers took on the closing role. He embraced the high-pressure situation, but also the excitement that comes along with such a responsibility.
“Your heart is pumping really fast, you get the crowd going in the ninth inning so yeah, that’s awesome,” he said. “I love to have that role, but Ryley Gilliam is one of the best closers in the country so obviously he’s going to get the ball in the ninth inning when we’re up by one, up by two.”
Spiers is adjusting to being a pitcher only. Last year, as a freshman, he pitched and played the infield. He feels as if the experience of being both a pitcher and position player has helped his arm and will allow him to pitch in numerous games a series if need be.
“Being a position player last year, I threw a lot in practice every day so I feel like I can go multiple games in a weekend, even on the weekday,” he said. “There’s only so many opportunities to play in front of crowds like this so why not play every day.”
One of the Tigers’ biggest strengths this season is the depth they have coming out of the bullpen.
“We have a lot of guys left-handed and right-handed coming out of the pen,” Spiers said. “We feel as if we’re the best bullpen in the country. We have these guys that piggy back off of the starters that can go three or four innings and then we have guys in the pen that can get one, two punch outs in the eighth or ninth.”
As Spiers gives credit to Gilliam for being one of the strongest closers out there, Spiers is becoming more and more confident he too has the ability to be “that guy” if he is needed in the situation.
“When Ryley’s down we still have to have guys come out and throw the ball in the ninth inning,” he said. “We have to have that closer. So I feel like if my name is called in that situation, I have the mindset and stuff to be that guy.”