CLEMSON – Clemson left eight runners on base and failed to capitalize on bases loaded situations twice in its 9-6 loss to West Virginia in Game 4 of the Clemson Regional Saturday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. 

The Tigers, hitless through three innings, plated four runs in the sixth inning to even the score 4-4. Centerfielder Cam Cannarella led the charge with a two-run homer, first baseman Jack Crighton followed with an RBI double, and catcher Jacob Jarrell launched a sacrifice fly to score another.

When Clemson scored another in the seventh inning to take its only lead off of a triple from shortstop Andrew Ciufo and a double from Cannarella, the Tigers failed to knock in any other runs with the bases loaded and one out after a double play ended the inning.

“Offensively, we took the lead late and of course, we would have loved to score in every inning, that’s just not reality,” Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said after the loss. “For us, it’s always about stringing quality at-bats together and just trying to have a lineup that’s a run-scoring unit, and we’re usually pretty good at the approach with that.” 

The double play killed momentum for the Tigers (45-17) on both sides of the ball, as West Virginia scored a run in the eighth to even the score, and Clemson hitters answered with two strikeouts and a ground out in return.

The Mountaineers plated four runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 9-5 lead. A two-out, Hail Mary rally in the bottom of the ninth inning knocked in a run for the Tigers, and put the go-ahead run at the plate.

Instead of a heroic comeback, however, a final strikeout from Crighton stranded three runners and cemented the final 9-6 score. 

“(We had) a few too many strikeouts and didn’t play very good offense in the first half of this game, but we have a lot of confidence in what we’re doing out there, it just didn’t work today,” Bakich said. “These aren’t professionals, they’re still college kids that care a lot about the name on the front of the jersey and they’re doing their best on both sides.

“It’s not like anyone was trying to screw up. Everybody’s leaving it all out there, so it’s not always going to go your way.” 

Because it did not go the Tigers’ way, Clemson will face Kentucky in an elimination game Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. If it can win, Clemson will still have to defeat West Virginia twice to advance to the Super Regional Round.

“We know what’s on the line here, but like Coach Bakich said, it’s been done before and even after the first couple minutes after that game no one’s hanging their head,” shortstop Andrew Ciufo said. “We’re ready to go tomorrow, selling out for game one against Kentucky, and we’re going to keep playing this regional.

“Obviously, it’s a harder route, but I have all confidence in guys on this roster and the coaches on the staff to keep leading us, and everyone just playing to play with each other for a little longer.”

Clemson will have its first chance to play “a little longer” Sunday against Kentucky. First pitch is set for noon.