CLEMSON- Team 127 believes. No matter what.
And that belief was on full display on Saturday evening, as Erik Bakich's Clemson Tigers overcame a seven-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning by scoring eight runs to secure a 9-8 walk-off win over No. 12 Florida State.
It was the second walk-off win of the day for the Tigers, as Clemson run-ruled the Seminoles 15-5 in the first game of a doubleheader.
While Bakich's team showed plenty of moxie by overcoming an early four-run deficit in the game one win, that belief was on full display in the eight run ninth that catapulted the Tigers to their victory in game two.
"Just how we drew it up," Bakich said with a smile. "It goes back to our leadoff banquet and Blake (Wright) was giving a speech to the crowd and says we're never out of the fight. That's this team. They have a high level of belief. If they can do things like that, they can do anything."
Jacob Hinderleider, who went 3-for-5 in the contest, with four RBI in the decisive ninth, got the scoring started with a 3-run bomb that pulled Clemson to within four at 8-4.
The versatile infielder noted that Bakich told the team in the middle of the ninth to buckle up, because something special was about to take place.
"Everybody came in the dugout for the bottom of the ninth, and EB says 'everybody get ready to hit, we're going to bat around and win this dang thing,'" Hinderleider said. "And that's exactly what happened."
Next it was Wright's turn, and after Clemson loaded the bases with just one out, he launched a grand slam out to center that tied it up.
“We always know, we're in it," Wright said. "We're never out of it. That is just kind of the mindset we have. Sure enough, we string one at-bat together, and then one-one-one and boom, there you go. We had 13 quality at bats in a row and we won the game."
However, the Tigers weren't quite done. After Wright's game-tying grand slam, Alden Mathes walked, but was then picked off of first for the second out of the inning. Jimmy Obertop was then hit by a pitch and Will Taylor followed that up by working a walk, putting runners a first and second.
That would set up Hinderleider's heroics, who would then lace a single into right-center. Obertop was waved home and the throw to the plate was off-target, giving Hinderleider his fourth RBI of the inning and setting off a monstrous on-field celebration as the Tigers clinched the weekend series.
"It was absolutely awesome to get to witness that and be a part of it," Bakich said. "To feel like a fan, not a coach, watching that. It was like Christmas morning.”
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