CLEMSON — Clemson was absolutely on the receiving end of some bad luck Tuesday night during the 11-9 loss to No. 15 Coastal Carolina.

After having already scored two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the Tigers’ lead to 9-5, the Chanticleers had the bases loaded with two down. Brice Estep then popped one up just off the infield behind first base. As Jack Crighton was attempting to make the play, there was a collision with the first base umpire and the ball fell to the ground.

Instead of getting out of the inning, two more runs came across, pulling Coastal to within two runs. One more run would end coming across before Clemson finally got out of the inning, and a six-run advantage was suddenly just a one-run lead. The Chants would score twice more in the eighth and another time in the ninth to pull off a comeback victory, sending Clemson to its fourth consecutive loss.

While social media erupted in outrage due to the “interference,” as did many of the fans in attendance, Erik Bakich wasn’t interested in making any excuses for the loss.

“That is the way it goes sometimes,” the head coach said. “I have seen hard hit balls hit the umpire, deflect to the defender, and they turn a double play. Then it is good interference. Then there is one like today.”

Not only is Clemson currently mired in a four-game losing streak, but the Tigers have now lost seven of their last 10 games, dating back to the midweek loss at Georgia Southern two weeks ago.

“When you are going through it, don’t expect to get breaks,” Bakich added. “So we are not getting them. That is why we have to be overly positive in the way we talk, and the way we believe has to be overly positive. We just need to get that positive energy going our way.”

While the bang-bang play certainly benefited the Chants, Clemson was still up two runs after it concluded. One more out gets them out of the inning, still leading. Instead, with. runners on the corners, catcher Nate Savoie chose to try to throw out the runner at first, who was attempting to steal second. While that play did result in a run-down leading to the final out, the runner at third came home, cutting Clemson’s lead to 9-8.

So even after the chaos, the Tigers still had an opportunity to finish it off. Instead, the Chants plated three more runs over the final two innings, with two of those being unearned. Clemson never even threatened to score over those final two frames, going six up and six down.

For Bakich, that is where the focus lies. He believes his team should be able to overcome those types of plays instead of going down without much of a fight.

“Obviously, a tough break in the inning, but we have to be able to overcome that,” Bakich said. “If we are going to be the team we are supposed to be, we can not let little things like that derail us. If we are really showing our toughness, we respond and put up a few runs in the bottom of the frame.”