Controversial Call Leads to Clemson Baseball Keeping Win Streak Alive

This was an unquestionably huge game for this Clemson baseball program in the 2023 season. Riding a 5 game-win streak with only one game remaining before its first conference series of the year against Duke, it's fair to say the Tigers needed to keep the momentum rolling after a poor start. Not only did Clemson get the win, but it came against a College of Charleston team that is inarguably the second-best opponent that has appeared on the schedule so far.

Needless to say, it was a big win, and despite many Cougar fans arguing that it may not have been deserved, at least not yet, Clemson did plenty in the 8th inning to come out of this one victorious. Down 3-1 entering the inning, Cooper Ingle started the rally with an RBI double, his second of the game, to left center. That was later followed up by a Will Taylor infield single that forced a bad throw that eventually allowed Cam Cannarella to score the winning run on the same play.

This leads us to the controversy. The Cougars' Will Baumhofer was batting with a runner on second and hit a chopper up the middle and was thrown out. After the replay, the throw was shown to be just barely too late. The problem was the first base umpire ruled him out and in the confusion of Baumhofer arguing the call the runner on second eventually came around to score. Clemson thought the game was over and Charleston thought they had just tied it late. Unfortunately, the rule states that even though the batter was safe at first the tying run had to retreat to third base because that's where he was when the initial call was made.

All in all, it was certainly a frustrating ending to a solid baseball game. In the end, Clemson was able to eke out a victory for the third time this season when entering the 8th inning behind. That never-say-die attitude is a reputation this team can build a foundation on.