Bakich Calls out Gamecock Fans

CLEMSON — Clemson may not be playing South Carolina in the Clemson Regional this weekend, but that did not stop its head coach from calling out the fans of the Tigers’ biggest rival.

Following the announcement of Clemson’s regional field on Monday, Clemson head coach Erik Bakich was asked about the Tigers’ lack of success in the regional the last 14 years and how this year’s squad has nothing to do with what happened in those previous 10 NCAA Regionals.

“Everyone wants to talk about that, but the people who bring that up over and over and over again, those are called Gamecocks. Those are not Clemson fans,” Bakich said. “It is the South Carolina fanbase that love to troll. So, whatever.

“They have bragging rights because of what they accomplished a decade ago, and that is fine and we have to go out and do it.”

South Carolina’s baseball team on Monday made Bakich’s point for him.

The Gamecocks, who are playing in the Raleigh (NC State) Regional this weekend, beat Clemson twice in the College World Series in 2010 and then beat the Tigers twice in the Columbia, S.C. Regional in 2012 to eliminate the Tigers from the field.

Clemson also lost to the Gamecocks in the 2002 CWS.

However, the Tigers did beat the Gamecocks in the 1976 Columbia Regional on their way to Omaha, while they beat South Carolina two times in the 1980 Clemson Regional to advance to Omaha as well.

Clemson beat the Gamecocks twice this season in head-to-head matchups and currently owns bragging rights. The Tigers lead the overall series 188-145-2.

“If you are going to start looking in history books, then go back to the mid-’90s and the early 2000s and Coach (Jack) Leggett’s heyday. Go back to Coach (Bill) Wilhelm’s heyday. This is a blueblood program with plenty of rich history and tradition,” Bakich said. “If Clemson baseball is truly back then we have to go out and earn it on the field and we are going to do that by not overlooking Highpoint, but by getting in the winner’s bracket and then try to stay in the winner’s bracket in Game 2.”

Since 2012, Clemson is 0-6 in the winner’s bracket game in regional competition. The Tigers last won in the winner’s bracket game in 2011.

Clemson (41-14) lost a heartbreaking game to Tennessee in the winner’s bracket game last year in the Clemson Regional. The Volunteers rallied to beat the Tigers 6-5 in 14 innings.

“It all starts with getting in the winner’s bracket game in Game 1 and what has happened historically does not have anything to do with what is going to happen on Friday,” Bakich said. “We have to go out and play well.”

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