CLEMSON — Erik Bakich’s Clemson Baseball team has passed one early-season test with flying colors.

Despite not having Jacob McGovern, one of the team’s key relievers, and starters Talan Bell and Drew Titsworth being limited, the Tigers’ pitching staff has come out of the gate firing on all cylinders.

Through seven games, Clemson pitchers are sporting a team ERA of 1.35 with 77 strikeouts to just 15 walks. After the 7-5 win over Bryant, the staff now has a collective WHIP of 0.80. Those numbers are outstanding, despite the small sample size, and when you add in that McGovern has not pitched, and Titsworth just made his debut on Sunday, they’re even more impressive. Let’s not forget that transfer Ariston Veasey has also yet to throw this season.

However, if the Tigers are going to have the type of season they want to have, they will have to do it without McGovern. Bakich revealed on Sunday that the veteran lefty will undergo surgery on Wednesday for an elbow injury and will not pitch this season.

“He gave it a good go, but he’s got a partial in the elbow, and he’s going to have — not a full reconstruction, but the internal brace,” Bakich said. “The rehab is not quite as long, but it will mean he will miss the season. That will suck, because he has been such a weapon for us.”

After suffering a mild strain ahead of the season, Titsworth missed the opening series against Army. He made his season debut on Sunday, throwing 37 pitches in two innings of work, allowing a run on one hit.

Left-hander Talan Bell suffered a setback before the start of the preseason, which in turn slowed his ramp-up process. Bell threw two innings in his first start last weekend, then tossed three on Sunday, getting up over the 50-pitch mark.

“(Titsworth) and Talan are both ramping back up,” Bakich said. “They both had just fluke stuff happen over Christmas break. Drew had a muscle pull. Just something that set his ramp time back a little bit. Talan broke his thumb with his scooter and a car door, so that set his ramp time back a bit. Those two guys will continue to pitch, and they will continue to ramp up. They will be two great pieces for us moving forward. We will use them both as starters.”

With those guys basically on a limited pitch count and McGovern not available, other guys in the bullpen have been afforded some early opportunities. Freshmen Danny Nelson and Dylan Harrison have both proved capable over the first two weekends.

Dion Brown has thrown 3.1 innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts, and Justin LeGuernic has looked like a different pitcher, having not allowed an earned run across his first seven innings of work. He has struck out eight while only walking one hitter.

Bakich proclaimed ahead of the season that he believed this was the deepest pitching staff he’s had since he’s been at Clemson. The results from the first two weekends has lended some credence to that statement.

“We certainly have the talent,” Bakich said. “The personnel… we have more bullpen depth than we’ve had the last three years and that’s for sure.”