The Clemson Insider takes a look back at No. 11 Clemson’s 3-2 “sweeping” win over No. 10 Dallas Baptist in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

What happened?

The Tigers (7-0) jumped on the Patriots (3-3) early for the third straight game as Logan Davidson led off the bottom of a first with a single before Seth Beer hit his second homer of the season to put Clemson up 2-0. Dallas Baptist would get an unearned run in the second inning to make it 2-1 before both teams settled in on the mound. The Tigers would scratch across a key insurance run in the eighth without the benefit of a hit to take a 3-1 lead. The Patriots put up a fight in the ninth, cutting the deficit to 3-2 and had the bases loaded but Ryley Gilliam battled for a game-ending strikeout to give Clemson the sweep in the series.

Game-Changing Moment:

The game changed in the late innings. In the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers used small ball to add an insurance run as a passed ball on strike three, walk, sac bunt, and sac fly brought in the eventual game-winning run. Dallas Baptist didn’t quit, loading the bases with one out and bringing one run in but Gilliam stepped up to end the game.

What went right?

Jake Higginbotham turned in the best pitching performance of the young season, allowing a single unearned run on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Gilliam ran into some trouble, but earned his second save of the season. Beer provided the big blast on offense with his homer as the Tigers tallied only four hits (but did draw six walks). 

What went wrong?

The Patriot pitching staff finally quieted the Tigers as the DBU bullpen did not allow a hit over the last 3.1 innings. Clemson committed a costly error that led to an unearned run and wasted several scoring chances by hitting into a couple of double plays and stranding six runners.