ATHENS, Ga. — Clemson was supposed to be playing No. 10 national seed Georgia today, instead the Tigers are in the elimination game of the Athens Regional after their 1-0 loss Friday to UNC Greensboro in Game 1.

There is no tomorrow for No. 2 seed Clemson if it does not take care of business against the College of Charleston in Game 4 (3:30 p.m.) and then beat the loser of UNCG-Georgia game in Game 5. And if they can survive Saturday’s two games, they will have to do it all over again on Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga.

But this is what this Clemson team was built for when it played the toughest schedule in the young history of the program. The Tigers are going to have to win four games in two days to advance to the Super Regional Round of the NCAA Tournament.

“We played in pre-ACC tournaments and tried to challenge ourselves as much as we can,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said. “This year, we played a lot of ranked teams. In our tournament, we had Baylor and Mississippi State, two teams that are in the postseason.

“So, it helps that we prepared for this, but you know, we have not played a doubleheader in a while, so that is a little different. But mentality, physically and emotionally, at this time of the year, you are ready to go. So, I do not think it will be a huge factor for us.”

The Tigers (32-21) are 5-1 in doubleheaders this season, with all six games coming in early-season tournaments. Clemson beat No. 5 Oregon and No. 21 Liberty in back-to-back games on Feb. 6., in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. It then lost to No. 9 Arkansas and beat BYU a week later in the Texas State Bobcat Tournament in San Marcos, Texas.

On Feb. 20, the Tigers took down Lipscomb and Saturday’s opponent, the College of Charleston, in the Clemson Classic. Clemson beat the Cougars, 7-0, in that matchup at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson.

“We have the pitching staff to make a run, even in the loser’s bracket. So, we are confident there,” Rittman said. “We just have to flush (Friday) and that can be tough because we are a young ballclub. But we have to flush today and come out tomorrow with new life and new energy and play the game we love and play the way we are capable of playing.”

Abby Dunning was good in the first game for the Tigers in the circle. She did not allow an earned run, as she threw a complete game in 113 pitches. The senior allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out seven batters.

However, if Clemson is going to keep its season alive, it will have to hit the ball better than it did against the Spartans. The Tigers managed just five hits, with two coming from Kiley Channell, who had two doubles.

Clemson was 0-for-9 with runners on base and 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

“We have to figure out ways to hit the ball and score some runs,” Rittman said. “I think we are built to make a run in the loser’s bracket.”

They just have to go prove it.