2023 Clemson Tigers baseball team

The 2023 Clemson Tigers baseball team were the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represented Clemson University during the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by first-year head coach Erik Bakich. Clemson played its home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

2023 Clemson Tigers baseball
ACC Tournament champions
Clemson Regional, 1–2
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 18
CB	No. 17
Record	44–19 (20–10 ACC)
Head coach	Erik Bakich (1st season)
Assistant coaches	Nick Schnabel (1st season) Jimmy Belanger (1st season)
Home stadium	Doug Kingsmore Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Atlantic
No. 3 Wake Forest ^x‍‍‍^y	22	–	7		.759			54	–	12		.818
No. 18 Clemson ‍‍‡‍^y	20	–	10		.667			44	–	19		.698
Boston College ‍‍‍^y	16	–	14		.533			37	–	20		.649
Notre Dame  ‍‍‍	15	–	15		.500			30	–	24		.556
NC State ‍‍‍^y	13	–	16		.448			36	–	21		.632
Louisville  ‍‍‍	10	–	20		.333			31	–	24		.564
Florida State  ‍‍‍	9	–	21		.300			23	–	31		.426
Coastal
No. 6 Virginia ^x‍‍‍^y	19	–	11		.633			50	–	13		.794
No. 20 Miami (FL) ‍‍‍^y	18	–	12		.600			42	–	21		.667
No. 15 Duke ‍‍‍^y	16	–	13		.552			39	–	23		.629
North Carolina ‍‍‍^y	14	–	14		.500			36	–	24		.600
Virginia Tech  ‍‍‍	12	–	17		.414			30	–	23		.566
Georgia Tech  ‍‍‍	12	–	18		.400			30	–	27		.526
Pittsburgh  ‍‍‍	10	–	18		.357			24	–	31		.436
x – Division champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 25, 2023^[1] Rankings from D1Baseball

The Tigers started the season sluggishly going 4–4 in February and losing their first three ACC Series. They were 17–14 overall and 2–8 in the ACC as of April 6, after the first game of their series against Florida State. The Tigers won their next two games in the series and their season turned around. The Tigers only lost three more games during the regular season, and finished 39–17 overall and 20–10 in ACC play to finish in second place in the Atlantic Division. They went into the ACC tournament on a twelve game winning streak and were the third seed. The Tigers were placed in a pool with sixth seed Boston College and tenth seed Virginia Tech. After going 2–0 in pool play, the Tigers defeated North Carolina in the Semifinals and Miami (FL) in the Final to win their eleventh ACC tournament title.^[2] The Tigers earned the ACC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and were selected as the fourth overall seed. They won the opening game of the regional against Lipscomb to extend their winning streak to seventeen games.^[3] Their streak ended there as they lost to Tennessee in fourteen innings. The Tigers could not overcome Charlotte in the elimination game of the regional and their season ended.

Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2022 season 35–23 overall and 13–16 in ACC Play, to finish in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. As the twelfth seed in the ACC tournament they were placed in pool A with first seed Virginia Tech and eight seed North Carolina. They lost both games and were eliminated from the tournament. They were not invited to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. It was the first time the Tigers had missed the NCAA tournament in consecutive years since 1982-1986. It was their first time missing back-to-back tournaments since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1999.^[4] At the end of the season, Monte Lee was fired as the head coach.^[5]

Personnel

Roster

2023 Clemson Tigers roster^[6]
	Pitchers 13 - B.J. Bailey - Junior 15 - Reed Garris - Sophomore 18 - Tristan Smith - Freshman 20 - Willie Weiss -   Senior 21 - Ryan Ammons -   Junior 25 - Jackson Lindley -   Senior 26 - Casey Tallent - Sophomore 29 - Joe Allen - Freshman 30 - Billy Barlow - Sophomore 31 - Caden Grice - Junior 35 - Jay Dill - Sophomore 36 - Ty Olenchuk - Junior 37 - Nick Hoffmann -   Junior 39 - Ethan Darden - Freshman 41 - Nathan Dvorsky - Freshman 44 - Nick Clayton -   Junior 48 - Rob Hughes -   Senior 51 - Rocco Reid - Sophomore 53 - Josh Davis -   Freshman 56 - Austin Gordon - Sophomore		Catchers 9 - Jacob Jarrell - Freshman 12 - Cooper Ingle - Junior 33 - Hogan Garner - Freshman Infielders 2 - Nolan Nawrocki - Freshman 6 - Riley Bertram -   Senior 8 - Blake Wright - Junior 10 - Cam Cannarella - Freshman 17 - Billy Amick - Sophomore 19 - Cooper Blauser - Freshman 24 - Mac Starbuc -   Senior 32 - Jack Reynolds - Freshman 50 - Jay Dillard - Freshman		Outfielders 1 - Tyler Corbitt -   Senior 3 - Jack Crighton - Freshman 4 - Benjamin Blackwell -   Senior 5 - Gavin Abrams - Sophomore 11 - Chad Fairey -   Senior 16 - Will Taylor - Sophomore 22 - Nathan Hall - Freshman 27 - Tristan Bissetta -   Freshman 55 - Lleyton Lackey - Freshman Utility 40 - Brodey Conn - Freshman 54 - Nick Couch -   Junior

Coaching Staff

2023 Clemson Tigers coaching staff^[6]
Name	Position	Seasons at Clemson
Erik Bakich	Head Coach	1
Nick Schnabel	Assistant Coach	1
Jimmy Belanger	Assistant Coach	1
Griffin Mazur	Volunteer Assistant Coach	1

Schedule

Legend
	Clemson win
	Clemson loss
	Cancellation
Bold	Clemson team member
*	Non-Conference game
†	Make-Up Game

2022 Clemson Tigers baseball game log^[7]
Regular season
February (4–4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record ACC record Feb 17 Binghamton* Doug Kingsmore Stadium Clemson, SC W 11–3 Ammons (1–0) Babalis (0–1) None 4,469 1–0 – Feb 18 Binghamton* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 3–2 Weiss (1–0) Collins (0–1) Smith (1) 5,050 2–0 – Feb 19 Binghamton* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 19–1 Dill (1–0) Bryggman (0–1) None 4,150 3–0 – Feb 21 Charlotte* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 9–5 Bailey (1–0) Gillentine (0–1) None 4,200 4–0 – Feb 24 UCF* Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 2–4 Centala (1–0) Lindley (0–1) Kramer (1) 4,281 4–1 – Feb 25 UCF* Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 7–10 Marlowe (1–1) Darden (0–1) None 4,357 4–2 – Feb 26 UCF* Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 6–13 Vespi (1–0) Bailey (1–1) Vieira (1) 4,286 4–3 – Feb 28 vs. USC Upstate* Fluor Field at the West End Greenville, SC L 3–6 Curtis (2–0) Hoffmann (0–1) Sullivan (1) 1,397 4–4 – March (12–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record ACC record Mar 3 No. 23 South Carolina* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 5–2 Lindley (1–1) Sanders (1–1) None 5,456 5–4 – Mar 4 vs. No. 23 South Carolina* Fluor Field at the West End L 9–11 Becker (1–0) Dill (1–1) None 7,215 5–5 – Mar 5 at No. 23 South Carolina* Founders Park Columbia, SC L 1–7 Hicks (3–0) Barlow (0–1) None 8,242 5–6 – Mar 7 East Tennessee State* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 4–1 Allen (1–0) Smiddy (3–2) Lindley (1) 4,263 6–6 – Mar 8 Presbyterian* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 5–3 Dvorsky (1–0) Ymker (0–1) Tallent (1) 4,107 7–6 – Mar 10 Georgia State* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 9–8 Hoffmann (1–1) Ottinger (0–2) None 3,912 8–6 – Mar 11 Georgia State* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 10–2 Garris (1–0) Landry (0–1) Allen (1) 5,242 9–6 – Mar 11 Georgia State* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 10–7 Clayton (1–0) Watson (0–1) None 5,242 10–6 – Mar 14 College of Charleston* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 4–3 Hoffmann (2–1) Privette (1–1) Lindley (2) 4,089 11–6 – Mar 18 Duke Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 2–3 Beilenson (1–1) Gordon (0–1) Tallon (3) 5,213 11–7 0–1 Mar 18 Duke Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 14–9 Tallent (1–0) White (2–1) Hoffmann (1) 5,213 12–7 1–1 Mar 19 Duke Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 8–11 Weaver (2–1) Reid (0–1) None 3,974 12–8 1–2 Mar 21 Winthrop* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 8–5 Clayton (2–0) Whittle (2–1) None 3,803 13–8 – Mar 22 at Kennesaw State* Fred Stillwell Stadium Kennesaw, GA W 6–2 Garris (2–0) Eidson (1–2) None 857 14–8 – Mar 24 at Georgia Tech Russ Chandler Stadium Atlanta, GA L 3–4 (11) Busse (1–1) Lindley (1–2) None 1,279 14–9 1–3 Mar 25 at Georgia Tech Russ Chandler Stadium L 3–16 Schmolke (3–0) Smith (0–1) None 1,779 14–10 1–4 Mar 26 at Georgia Tech Russ Chandler Stadium W 14–5 Grice (1–0) Finley (1–2) None 1,205 15–10 2–4 Mar 28 vs. College of Charleston* Segra Park Columbia, SC W 10–3 Darden (1–1) Campbell (1–1) None 1,678 16–10 – Mar 30 No. 2 Wake Forest Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 3–8 Lowder (6–0) Gordon (0–2) None 4,217 16–11 2–5 Mar 31 No. 2 Wake Forest Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 3–4 Keener (3–0) Lindley (1–3) Minacci (7) 4,345 16–12 2–6 April (12–5) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record ACC record Apr 1 No. 2 Wake Forest Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 5–6 Hartle (6–1) Grice (1–1) Roland (1) 4,521 16–13 2–7 Apr 4 No. 17 Coastal Carolina* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 16–6 (7) Hoffmann (3–1) Huesman (1–3) None 4,678 17–13 – Apr 6 at Florida State Dick Howser Stadium Tallahassee, FL L 1–5 Baumeister (2–2) Gordon (0–3) Montgomery (1) 4,542 17–14 2–8 Apr 7 at Florida State Dick Howser Stadium W 8–1 Darden (2–1) Whittaker (3–3) None 4,406 18–14 3–8 Apr 8 at Florida State Dick Howser Stadium W 6–2 Grice (2–1) Armstrong (1–2) None 4,279 19–14 4–8 Apr 11 at Georgia* Foley Field Athens, GA W 8–1 Weiss (2–0) L. Wagner (1–2) None 3,569 20–14 – Apr 14 Notre Dame Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 4–10 Spivey (1–0) Darden (2–2) Tyrell (1) 4,347 20–15 4–9 Apr 15 Notre Dame Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 5–1 Gordon (1–3) Findlay (4–2) None 5,174 21–15 5–9 Apr 16 Notre Dame Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 6–4 Clayton (3–0) Birkholz (0–3) None 4,202 22–15 6–9 Apr 18 Georgia* Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 4–5 Caldwell (2–0) Bailey (1–2) Finley (3) 4,645 22–16 – Apr 21 at NC State Doak Field Raleigh, NC W 10–2 Darden (3–2) Whitaker (3–3) None 3,048 23–16 7–9 Apr 22 at NC State Doak Field W 9–7 Garris (3–0) Britton (2–2) Ammons (1) 2,844 24–16 8–9 Apr 23 at NC State Doak Field W 8–5 Grice (3–1) Willadsen (4–3) Smith (2) 2,956 25–16 9–9 Apr 25 Kennesaw State* Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 15–5 (7) Olenchuk (1–0) Sliver (1–2) None 4,112 26–16 9–9 Apr 28 at No. 11 Boston College Brighton Field Brighton, MA W 9–7 Clayton (4–0) Schroeder (5–3) Ammons (2) N/A 27–16 10–9 Apr 28 at No. 11 Boston College Brighton Field L 1–3 West (2–3) Gordon (1–4) Ryan (3) 1,063 27–17 10–10 Apr 29 at No. 11 Boston College Brighton Field W 6–3 Grice (4–1) Flynn (6–2) None 832 28–17 11–10 May (11–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record ACC record May 5 Louisville Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 6–3 Garris (4–0) Campbell (1–1) Ammons (3) 4,187 29–17 12–10 May 6 Louisville Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 4–3 Clayton (5–0) Phillips (4–2) Hughes (1) 4,456 30–17 13–10 May 7 Louisville Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 7–3 Grice (5–1) Biven (0–2) Ammons (4) 4,189 31–17 14–10 May 10 at No. 8 Coastal Carolina* No. 16 Springs Brooks Stadium Conway, SC W 13–6 Allen (2–0) Shaffer (4–1) None 3,511 32–17 14–10 May 12 at Virginia Tech No. 16 English Field Blacksburg, VA W 15–4 Lindley (2–3) Hackenberg (5–6) None 1,461 33–17 15–10 May 13 at Virginia Tech No. 16 English Field W 9–8 Clayton (6–0) Kirtner (1–1) Smith (3) 1,485 34–17 16–10 May 14 at Virginia Tech No. 16 English Field W 9–6 Grice (6–1) Hurney (3–2) Smith (4) 1,805 35–17 17–10 May 16 USC Upstate* No. 7 Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 12–2 (8) Allen (3–0) Matheny (2–3) None 4,123 36–17 17–10 May 18 North Carolina No. 7 Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 14–7 Clayton (7–0) Carlson (4–2) None 4,102 37–17 18–10 May 19 North Carolina No. 7 Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 5–4 Ammons (2–0) Poston (3–3) None 4,644 38–17 19–10 May 20 North Carolina No. 7 Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 3–1 Grice (7–1) Pence (4–2) Hughes (2) 4,589 39–17 20–10
Postseason
ACC Tournament (4–0) Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 24 (10) Virginia Tech (3) No. 6 Durham Bulls Athletic Park Durham, NC W 14–5 Bailey (2–2) Hackenberg (5–8) None 2,398 40–17 1–0 May 26 (6) Boston College (3) No. 6 Durham Bulls Athletic Park W 4–1 Gordon (2–4) Flynn (7–3) Ammons (5) 3,348 41–17 2–0 May 27 (7) North Carolina (3) No. 6 Durham Bulls Athletic Park W 10–4 Grice (8–1) Bovair (4–4) None 3,147 42–17 3–0 May 28 (4) No. 11 Miami (FL) (3) No. 6 Durham Bulls Athletic Park W 11–5 Lindley (3–3) Torres (4–1) None 4,792 43–17 4–0
NCAA tournament (1–2) Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record Tournament record June 2 (4) Lipscomb (1) No. 3 Doug Kingsmore Stadium W 12–5 Clayton (8–0) Van Treeck (8–5) None 5,322 44–17 1–0 June 3 (2) No. 21 Tennessee (1) No. 3 Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 5–6 (14) Halvorsen (3–3) Tallent (1–1) None 6,275 44–18 1–1 June 4 (3) Charlotte (1) No. 3 Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 2–3 Thompson (8–2) Hughes (0–1) None 4,834 44–19 1–2

Note: All rankings shown are from D1Baseball Poll.

Rankings

See also: 2023 NCAA Division I baseball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Final
Coaches'^[8]	—	—*	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	21	10	8	5	5*	5*	18
Baseball America^[9]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	18	16	7	4	4*	4*	15
Collegiate Baseball^^[10]	42	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	25	17	11	7	3	17	17	17
NCBWA†^[11]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	21	13	9	6	19	19*	18
D1Baseball^[12]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16	7	6	3	3*	3*	18

^ Collegiate Baseball ranks 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* New poll was not released for this week so for comparison purposes the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

1. "Baseball Standings". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
2. Rapp, Timothy (May 28, 2023). "ACC Baseball Championship 2023: Clemson vs. Miami Score, Reaction". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
3. "Clemson baseball loses marathon game, moves to brink of elimination in NCAA tournament". news.yahoo.com. Yahoo! News. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
4. Rink, Brandon (May 30, 2022). "Clemson baseball misses NCAA tournament for rare second consecutive time". tigernet.com. TigerNet. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
5. Aaro, David (May 31, 2022). "Monte Lee out as Clemson head baseball coach after seven seasons". foxnews.com. Fox News. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
6. "2022-23 Baseball Roster". Clemson Tigers. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
7. "2022-23 Baseball Schedule". clemsontigers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
8. Baseball Coaches Poll
9. Baseball America College: Top 25
10. NCAA DIV I Baseball Polls-Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
11. NCBWA Division I poll
12. Division 1 Baseball Rankings