CLEMSON — Tristan Bissetta grew up a Clemson Baseball fan.

His dream was to play for his childhood team and maybe one day help the Tigers earn a huge victory. His dream came true in Friday’s 4-3 victory over High Point in Game 2 of the Clemson Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

“I have dreamed of playing for this school since I was a child,” Bissetta said. “I have been coming to games my whole life. It is special. My grandfather was a huge Clemson fan.

“It is really nice to do it for the team that I have always wanted to play for and always cheered for, It is full circle for sure.”

With the score tied and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Bissetta strolled to the plate with Blake Wright on second base and Cam Cannarella anchoring first. On the first pitch from reliever Adam Grintz, the redshirt sophomore ripped a hit that bounced off the glove of High Point second baseman Brayden Simpson and into right field.

Wright, who held up to make sure Simpson did not make the catch, hustled home to score the winning run. Once Wright touched home plate, he and the team raced to celebrate with Bissetta.

Some of his teammates dumped at least two buckets of Gatorade on him, and Clemson head coach Erik Bakich added some moisture to his already soaked jersey by squeezing some water down his right shoulder during the postgame press conference.

“I am completely soaked. I got like two buckets and a little bit of water from coach,” Bissetta said smiling. “I am absolutely soaked. It was totally worth it. It was awesome.”

Bissetta finished his night with two hits in four at-bats to go along with his winning hit. What made it extra special was doing it in front of his family and friends. He was even able to give his mom the game-winning ball.

“I am completely blessed with my parents and close family friends,” he said. “It was awesome having them here. I think I had like six people I got to hug after the game. That was just an extra special moment to be able to give that ball to my mom. It was beautiful.”

The Tigers’ winning-run was set up when High Point intentionally walked Cannarella following Wright’s lead-off double down the right field line.

Grintz struck out Jimmy Obertop on the next at-bat, but Bissetta ended the game on the next pitch with his hard-hit ball to rightfield.

“I have all the confidence in the world in all the guys,” Bakich said. “I thought Jimmy was going to walk it off, but when he didn’t, I knew Tristan would.”

Thanks to Bissetta’s late-game heroics, the top-seeded Tigers advanced to the winner’s bracket game on Saturday, where they will play No. 3 Coastal Carolina, who knocked off No. 2 Vanderbilt earlier in the day.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!