Caden Grice discusses Clemson advancing to the 2023 ACC Baseball Tournament Championship

Caden Grice is one of the best two-way players in all of college baseball. He put together another exceptional performance on Saturday afternoon in the 2023 ACC Tournament Semifinals against the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a batter, he had a two-run double and a run scored. As a pitcher, he fired nine strikeouts while only allowing three runs and four hits in seven innings of work. His standout performance helped to lift the Tigers to a 10-4 victory over the Heels and allowed them to punch their tickets to the ACC Tournament Championship. Following the big win, Grice spoke with the ACC Network broadcast crew about his team advancing to the final and winning their 15th straight game in the process.

Clemson continues to be one of the hottest teams in all of college baseball and they currently have the nation’s second-longest active winning streak. Grice discussed what the magical ride has been like lately for the Tigers. “I mean, it’s been fun. I feel like I’ve talked about it over and over again. This group just makes it so much fun to be around. So much fun to come out here and play. You know, even when you don’t have your best stuff. Everybody’s behind you. And they’re always picking you up. So, it’s really a pleasure to be a part of this group. And it’s been fun but we’re nowhere close to being done,” Grice said.

He spoke about his performance on the mound in Saturday’s ACC Tournament Semifinal. “I mean, I felt like I did good, but I mean, maybe I didn’t have my A stuff but it was nice. I got a lot of ground balls. And my defense was working. With the conditions, they didn’t make one complaint. It was really nice having them out here. They were picking me up after the innings. So, I mean that was a really important part of this game was making defensive plays with the conditions being how they are. And they definitely stepped up to the challenge, for sure,” Grice said.

He discussed the difficulties of dividing his attention from being a pitcher and a batter. The two-way star said his teammates around him help him to stay focused on the task at hand. “The biggest adjustment is being able to flip the switch. Like, after an at bat, coming in here, flipping the switch, just going back out. But, I mean, I have great people around me that help me stay focused. If I get out, they’re right there picking me up. And like, ‘We need you out there,’. I’m like you’re right. They do need me. I need to go out there and do my job and help this team win. I mean, it’s really nice having these people around me,” Grice said.

Clemson will face the Miami Hurricanes and slugger Yohandy Morales in the 2023 ACC Baseball Tournament Championship on Sunday, May 28th. First pitch for that one is set for noon in Durham, North Carolina. It will be the Hurricanes’ first trip to the ACC Baseball Tournament Championship since 2012.