Jacob Hennessy is becoming more and more comfortable embracing the role of a starter and it certainly showed Friday afternoon as the left-handed sophomore earned the win in 11th-ranked Clemson’s 12-1 victory over No. 10 Dallas Baptist University at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Hennessy pitched 6 1/3 innings, while only giving up three hits and two walks. He allowed no runs and struck out eight. As it was only his second start for the Tigers, Hennessy could already feel that his execution of his pitches were on point Friday.
“It was just executing pitches a little bit better,” he said referring to his start Friday night. “The changeup was a lot better this week than last week. That’s something I really focused on.
“So I took the same approach, same mindset. There really wasn’t any difference in jitters. But went out, and had a week under my belt which helped.”
Over the fall Hennessy spent a lot of time perfecting his changeup, which he now feels very comfortable throwing. Along with the changeup, his slider and fastball were all working for him Friday.
“I was throwing a lot of sliders,” he said. “I would say that was my outpitch tonight. I had a couple of strikeouts on changeups but the slider was the main pitch.”
“I feel like I’m settling in very well (to that starting role). I feel comfortable on the mound and I’ve just been feeling really good.”
Head coach Monte Lee felt that Hennessy was the most consistent pitcher over the course of the fall and that is why he earned the right to take the mound in Friday night games.
You earn the right to pitch on Friday nights,” Lee said after the game. “We don’t give anybody the opportunity to pitch on Friday night. You earn the opportunity to pitch on Friday night. We felt like Hennessy was our best pitcher this whole year. Throughout the fall we had intersquads a whole lot. We played a lot of intersquads before the season started and he was the most consistent pitcher on our pitching staff.
“He throws three pitches for strikes. He’s a competitor, hard worker, so we didn’t just give him the ball in Game 1. He earned the right to be our Friday night starter so I’m very proud of Jacob.”
Hennessy was also quick to give credit to his defense behind him as the Tigers have only made two errors this whole season so far. For Hennessy, it is reassuring to know plays will be made behind him.
“Our defense last year was outstanding too,” he said. “Both years I’ve been here we’ve had really good defenses. As far as confidence, yeah it helps when it’s the seventh inning and you’re pitching more to contact.
“(You) get a ground ball and you know the play is going to be made. So I’ve been really fortunate both years here because our defense has been outstanding.”
Although Clemson is still focused on what is in front of them with two more games against Dallas Baptist this weekend along with a mid-week game, next weekend is huge as the Tigers take on their instate rival, the South Carolina Gamecocks. Lee feels Hennessy has proved he is capable in earning the start again when the Tigers travel to Columbia this upcoming Friday night.
“It’s going to be hard to say no (to give Hennessy the Friday night start)”, Lee said. “He was dominant tonight. He threw the ball very, very well. So absolutely. He certainly deserves the opportunity to get the ball in Game 1.”