CLEMSON — BJ Bailey is proving to be a valuable asset out of the Clemson bullpen.

After missing all of last season with an injury, the left-handed reliever already has four appearances, which is the third-most on the team, and each time Bailey has pitched, he’s delivered.

After giving up a run on three hits in his season debut against Ole Miss the opening weekend in Arlington, Bailey has now thrown 9.1 innings of scoreless baseball.

After throwing three shutout innings in the midweek win over Winthrop two weeks ago, Bailey came out of the pen in last Tuesday’s win over USC Upstate and delivered his best outing of the season to date.

Entering the game in the third with no score and runners on first and second with just one out, Bailey retired the first two hitters he faced, stranding both base runners. He went on to pitch a career-high 4.2 innings, and his six strikeouts also set a new career best. Bailey did not allow a run or issue a walk and picked off a runner at first in the seventh as he picked up his first win of the season.

“BJ being able to eat over the middle was massive,” head coach Erik Bakich said.

“I thought BJ Bailey was the storyline tonight. Facing 17 hitters and putting zeros up through the middle innings and finally allowing our offense to separate.”

While Bailey’s performance was certainly one of the biggest reasons for the Tigers’ midweek wins over Winthrop and USC Upstate, the left-handed reliever was his typically humble self, choosing to give credit to pitching coach Jimmy Belanger, catcher Jacob Jarrell and the defense behind him.

“The guys playing behind me and Belly’s great pitch calling,” Bailey said. “The guys were going to work back there. JJ working his butt off behind the plate. Defense was solid all night.”

Bailey is just grateful for the opportunity to pitch again and he is making the most of those chances. In 11.1 innings pitched this season, he’s sporting a minuscule ERA of 0.79 and has 13 strikeouts to just one walk.

While missing all of last season was difficult, there were some lessons learned, and Bailey has used them to help get off to an extremely hot start.

“Being able to do something for the team,” Bailey said. “Just finding ways to help the team. Missing all of last season, it was a different perspective. Sitting on the outside, trying to find ways to make the guys around you better.”