CLEMSON — Heading into the eighth inning against West Virginia, Clemson was right where it wanted to be.

The top-seeded Tigers were up 5-4, and coming into Saturday, were 37-1 when leading after seven innings. That is how successful the backend of the bullpen has been.

However, this time, it wasn’t meant to be, as closer Lucas Mahlstedt blew his third consecutive save, and second in two nights. While Clemson was able to overcome the blown save on Friday, it was a feat they could not pull off against the Mountaineers. Second-seeded West Virginia touched up Mahlstedt for four runs on five hits in just one inning of work, winning 9-6.

The loss puts the Tigers in the loser’s bracket of the regional, and if they are to advance to a second Super Regional in as many seasons, they must win three games over the next two days.

With injuries severely impacting the pitching depth, that should pose quite a challenge. However, first things first, and this team has to find some way to stave off elimination on Sunday at noon against third-seeded Kentucky.

“We are going to start Talan Bell against Kentucky,” head coach Erik Bakich said. “We just have to completely sell out and empty the tank to just get game one.”

And right now, that Kentucky team is all that is on anyone’s mind. Lose that one, and the season is over.

“We’re not even game planning for Monday,” Bakich added. “We are game planning for whatever we have to do in the noon game.”

That means there might be some pitchers on that staff called on to throw on short rest. With the lack of depth currently on the staff, it’s the only shot Clemson has.

“Guys are going to have to pitch tired, guys are going to have to pitch sore,” Bakich said. “If we are going to do it, we are definitely going to do it uphill and the hard way. Maybe that is just how our story is supposed to go.”