CLEMSON — After dropping game one to Florida State on Friday, the Clemson baseball team finds itself in a must-win situation. Not just on Saturday, but for the rest of the weekend.

Despite the series-opening loss, the Tigers are still firmly entrenched inside the Top 40 of the RPI, meaning the metrics still like this team at the moment. That means Erik Bakich’s squad looks to be still alive when it comes to securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

However, there is no more margin for error. Clemson needs to take the next two over the Seminoles.

“From a numbers standpoint, we know we’ve got to take care of business,” Bakich added. “There’s no two ways about it. No ifs, ands or buts, we’ve got to do it.”

After beginning the season 15-1, the Tigers have been on the struggle bus throughout ACC play. Only twice have the Tigers won a conference series, and they are currently dead last in the league standings, despite being middle of the pack in the RPI.

Clemson did take two out of three last weekend from a Top 20 Boston College team, bouncing back to win the last two games after dropping the series opener. To keep their postseason hopes alive, the Tigers will have to do the same against the Seminoles.

Despite the loss on Friday night, Bakich felt confident in his team’s ability to pull it off.

“This last week, it’s felt different,” Bakich said. “I know we lost, but it doesn’t feel like how we lost a couple of weeks ago. This is a different type of feeling. A very optimistic feeling. I think there is an expectation that something good is going to happen for this team.”

Over Bakich’s first three seasons at the helm, Clemson has won more than 40 games all three years, as well as hosted home regionals. The Tigers also earned a national seed in two of those seasons, advancing to the Super Regional round in 2024 for the first time since 2010.

While there will be no home regional this season, Bakich insists his team has not given up, despite the struggles. And with Michael Sharman on the mound in game two, the team’s most effective pitcher all season, the head coach knows his team will have a chance to do what it could not on Friday.

“This weekend is big. They are all big,” Bakich said. “But there is no panic. Again, I like where these guys are mentally. I’ve got a good feeling about tomorrow.”