DURHAM, N.C. — There is nothing more Andrew Ciufo wanted than to win the ACC Baseball Championship on Sunday.

However, as No. 12 Clemson discovered early on in its 14-4 loss to third-ranked North Carolina, that just was not in the cards at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Though the Tigers tried to fight back in the championship game, there was more for them to take from this week’s ACC Tournament run, a run that saw them take down Virginia Tech, NC State and Georgia Tech on its way to the tournament finals.

“This team has tournament experience,” Ciufo said. “I am pretty proud of our team after coming off a tough couple of weeks stretch to bounce back against Pitt and play as well as we did in this tournament.”

The Tar Heels (42-12) snapped Clemson’s six-game win streak, which dated back to their sweep at Pittsburgh in the regular season series finale. The success against Pitt, coupled with the Tigers’ three wins in the ACC Tournament have the Tigers firmly positioned to host an NCAA Regional next week.

Clemson will learn tonight if it will host an NCAA Regional when the 16 host sites are announced at 8:30 by the NCAA. The NCAA Selection Show special on ESPN will be aired Monday at noon.

The Tigers (44-16) hope they can carry their momentum from the last week into the NCAA Tournament.

“The big picture, we have another tournament to play in next weekend,” Ciufo said. “We are hopeful we get to start the regional in Clemson. But this week helps us understand what it takes to play well and make a run in the tournament, all the depth you need from a bullpen perspective and play a game every single day and not taking anyone for granted.”

There are a lot of players from last year’s team, on this year’s team, that have the experience of the Tigers’ Super Regional run. Adding what they were able to accomplish this week in Durham, only adds to that experience and confidence.

“We are still in great shape moving on to another tournament and we are excited about that one,” Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said.

Last year, Clemson won its first regional since 2010 and then lost in two competitive games to Florida in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.

Bakich says the Tigers will definitely use Sunday’s loss to UNC to give them the edge they need to play well in the NCAA Tournament.

“We will certainly have that and feel that,” he said. “Something like this puts those feelings in the mind at bit. We have had enough adversity over the year, and especially towards the end of the season that our guys will be in a better mindset and will be playing with a chip on their shoulder.”

—photo by Clemson Athletic Communications