After losing its opening game to Maine on Friday, Clemson came back with a 9-4 victory on Saturday that tied up the series. Head coach Monte Lee, who got his first win at Clemson, felt the difference in the two games was his team’s discipline at the plate.

“We want our guys to be patient and take pitches they can hit and can hit hard. They need to take what they are looking for and find a way to get on base and we did that,” Lee said.

While having just seven hits, the Tigers banked on eight walks and was hit by three pitches.

“We had eleven HBPs or walks at the plate. We tell our guys as tough as it is to get hit by a pitch it’s your box and it’s a free 90,” Lee said. “It’s the same thing as a line-drive in my book, so we want to get on base as many times as we possibly can.”

Clemson’s most successful innings were in the second and third, where they totaled all nine runs between the two innings. Five of the runs were in the second, while four where in the third.

“If you look at the game of baseball, big innings win baseball games,” Lee said. “When you have an inning of three or more runs, your winning percentage is through the roof as a team. A lot of times the only way you can put up a big inning is if there are some free 90’s involved via a walk or hit by a pitch. It is a big part of our offense.”

Reed Rohlman, who had one hit and an RBI, says the team was a lot looser compared to their opening day game and that’s what made the difference.

“We all talked last night after the game. We just all admitted we were swinging happy,” the left fielder said. “We were anxious. We wanted to hit a home run. We really just settled down.”

The Tigers will face Maine in Game 3 of the three-game series today at 1 p.m.

If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.