CLEMSON — One of Clemson’s weekend starters was missing from the rotation during Clemson’s three-game series against Louisville.

Ethan Darden, who has been the No. 3 Tigers’ Saturday starter since the season began, was replaced by Drew Titsworth in the series win over the No. 17 Cardinals.

With Darden having experienced his share of struggles since the beginning of ACC play, Erik Bakich decided to make a change to the weekend rotation. Not only did Darden not start, he didn’t even pitch in a relief role this weekend.

Clemson had to dig deep into its bullpen in Saturday’s 12-inning loss to Louisville, and Darden’s absence was noticed seeing as the Tigers went deep into the bullpen in the series finale.

“He’s a little tender,” Bakich said. “I don’t think it is anything serious. When guys have soreness, you want to be precautionary. So it was just a precautionary skip-start. Certainly going to need him down the stretch.”

Titsworth was masterful in Darden’s place, pitching a career-high six innings, holding Louisville scoreless in his first-ever start. He faced three batters over the minimum.

The right-handed hurler was so good, in fact, that you can almost bet on seeing Titsworth in the same role next weekend when the Tigers travel to Raleigh for another big ACC showdown.

“I think he crossed the bridge,” Bakich said. “I think he made the jump. I think we would be crazy not to pencil him as a starter somewhere.