Clemson baseball hosted its fall ball exhibition game against East Carolina on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, showcasing some of the talent the Tigers plan to bring into the spring after their new head coach Erik Bakich has redirected the program’s focus.
After posting a 13-16 ACC record for the 2022 season, the team was forced to adjust its staff, welcoming Bakich as the 28th head coach of the program.
Bakich was previously a volunteer assistant coach for Clemson in 2002 but hails from a head coaching position at Michigan, where he spent 10 years with the Wolverines. 
“I think what we can do as a coaching staff is create an environment, every single day, that’s very structured and very disciplined, that’s focused on a high level of (competition), high energy and just bringing in a very high level of intensity,” Bakich said prior to the matchup. 
The coach also wants his team to focus on classroom accomplishments, as well as an appreciation for the Clemson culture, in order to round out his players as much as possible before they can take the field in confidence.
Bakich’s focus is to eventually be “competing for championships and trips to Omaha.”
On Sunday, the Tigers put up four runs in just the third inning and held the Pirates scoreless until the fifth, when they scored a home run. 
On the mound, 13 pitchers were rotated in an effort to give the pitching staff experience that will come into play in the spring.
The game ultimately ended after fifteen innings with a 10-8 score, defeating East Carolina.
For the upcoming season, the Tigers have brought in 19 new signees, including two graduate transfers following Bakich from Michigan in Riley Bertram and Willie Weiss.
With plenty of time to practice before the regular season kicks off, the Tigers are eager to take on the field with, according to Bakich, with their newfound focus on “growth and improvement, that will all lead to a compound effect over time of restoring this program back to where it belongs.”
Clemson will host its next scrimmage against UNC Wilmington at Doug Kingsmore on Oct. 29 at noon. The Tigers will then host three more scrimmages at home on Nov. 10, 11 and 13 for their Super Regional intrasquad series to close out the fall ball season.
All scrimmages are free and open to the public.