The Clemson baseball team got swept down in Miami this past weekend. While the loss stings, it may not be such a bad thing.
The Clemson baseball team could not manage just one win down in Coral Gables and got swept by the 4th-ranked Miami Hurricanes this past weekend. While the loss stings and you never like to get swept, there are reasons to believe that this sweep could be a positive in the long-run for Clemson baseball.
Obviously, the short-run of this series hurts. Obviously it’s never good to lose three conference games, but the Tigers will be able to use this sweep and, in my opinion, do what they’ve done best all season to this point: Bounce back and learn from it.
Let’s take a look at some positives from this weekend’s letdown.
- Clemson competed with a top-five team in the nation, on the road nonetheless.
Clemson baseball was able to compete with a top-five ranked Miami team. The Tigers lost both Friday and Saturday night’s games in heartbreaking walk-off fashion. As a matter of fact, Miami trailed by a run heading into the bottom of the ninth on Friday before Abreu hit a two-run walk-off home run.
Clemson had a chance to win both Friday and Saturday, but could not come up with clutch-hitting and made too many errors to win a game in the series.
- The problems are fixable.
Everyone, even the casual fan, knows what the problem was this weekend. Clemson baseball committed too many fielding errors and left too many men stranded on base.
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The coaching staff know and have already recognized these things. They will work on them in practice and will make sure guys get work in the field.
- It’s a learning opportunity for the young guys.
Clemson baseball has several veterans on the team, such as guys as Chris Okey and Weston Wilson, but there are also many young guys and underclassmen that could stand to learn from this situation.
As a matter of fact, the vast majority of starters in Clemson’s lineup are sophomores. That being said, a sweep is an opportunity for the young guys to realize they must show up every day and that they must bring their best every time they are on the diamond.
- The Tigers could afford it.
I’m not saying get swept just because you have a great record, but this was not a “life or death series.” Everyone knew coming into the weekend that Clemson baseball would need to play exceptional to just have a chance at winning.
Miami is an extremely talented team and they are a team that will be competing in Omaha later this spring. Obviously, you would have liked to won at least a game, but this is not like other years where you started 11-9 in the first 20 games.
Clemson baseball is still on track to have a great season and it’s all about bouncing back and fixing those mistakes, especially in the field.
If the Tigers can do that, they will still be on track for a great season and will be competing for a chance to host a Regional when it’s all said and done.
It’s okay to be disappointed with the sweep this weekend Tiger fans, but don’t jump off the bandwagon just yet. The Tigers have been resilient and there is still and confident and positive vibe in the clubhouse.
Clemson baseball will get back to work on Tuesday when they travel to Furman to take on the Paladins before they go up to Cullowhee, North Carolina to take on Western Carolina on Wednesday.
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It’s easy to be negative and disappointed after a sweep, but let’s not forget all the positives moving forward. Clemson baseball is 17-6 overall and 5-4 in the ACC. They will look to improve that record this week and get back on track after a tough weekend.