Clemson pitching prevailed in Sunday’s series finale as it sealed a series sweep over William & Mary with a 2-1 victory.

It is the first time since 2009 the Tigers have opened the season with a series sweep, Clemson did open the 2010 season 3-0 but played three different teams.

After offseason questions loomed over the Clemson pitching staff, Tiger pitchers put together a solid weekend striking out 36 batters and only allowing two walks.

Sophomore pitcher Jake Higginbotham earned the win, effectively shutting down William & Mary hitters Sunday afternoon to earn the win.

Higginbotham gave the Tigers a solid five plus innings allowing just two hits and one run without a walk, whilst striking out three. He held his first 15 batters hitless before a leadoff double in the sixth.

It was Higginbotham’s first outing since April 2016 after missing the entirety of 2017 recovering from an arm injury he suffered in his freshman campaign.

Clemson Head Coach Monte Lee was proud of the production from Higginbotham in Sunday afternoon’s victory.

“It’s been a long time coming for Jake after missing last year,” Lee said. “We could not have asked for a better start,” he said.

There is still room for improvement from Clemson offensively, as the Tigers were held to just 6 hits on the afternoon.

“We have to find a way to swing the bats, I’m a little frustrated because of our expectations but we have to free it up and hit better,” said Lee.

Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Chris Williams scored on an RBI groundout by Drew Wharton, after Williams led the inning of with a single.

In the bottom of the fourth the Tigers took a 2-0 lead as William & Mary pitcher Jacob Haney hit Justin Hawkins forcing Beer to come home, after loading up the bases with three walks.

The Tribe struck back in the sixth with a leadoff double from David Hogarth followed by an RBI single form Owen Socher cutting the Clemson lead to 2-1.

Freshman Travis Marr took the mound with no outs and a runner on first and managed to retire the side. Marr put together three innings without a hit, two strikeouts, and one walk.

Junior Ryley Gilliam closed things out for the Tigers in the ninth securing a three hit day for Clemson pitchers.

Clemson returns to action Tuesday at 4 p.m. as it hosts Furman.