Virginia Tech pounds Clemson, potentially ends Tigers season

Clemson baseball coach Monte Lee said Tuesday night that the Tigers season was on the line Thursday against Virginia Tech.

If that was indeed the case, Clemson’s 2022 season came to a disappointing end against the Hokies.

No. 1 seed Virginia Tech pounded the Tigers 18-6 Thursday night in Charlotte.

Clemson falls to 35-23 with the loss. The Tigers were outscored 27-8 in their two ACC tournament games.

“Virginia Tech did a tremendous job tonight. Swung the bats exceptionally well,” Clemson coach Monte Lee said.

“Ultimately their offense was just so good. We haven’t had a chance to play those guys this year, but looking at them before we went into the game, we knew how good they were. Seeing them in person, coach Szefc has a fantastic ballclub that is built to make a deep run.”

The Hokies led 3-2 after the first two innings, before breaking the game open with a seven-run third.

Virginia Tech added two runs in the fifth, two in the seventh and four in the ninth.

As a team, the Hokies hit six home runs. Nick Biddison and Carson Jones each hit two.

“I’m disappointed that as the head coach I didn’t do a good enough job of putting us in a better position,” Lee said. “I’m 100 percent accountable for the way our team plays. Obviously that falls on me.”

Offensively the Tigers had a solid day at the plate. Max Wagner hit his 27th homer of the season to tie Clemson’s single-season record.

Blake Wright and Camden Troyer also homered for the Tigers.

But it wasn’t nearly enough as Clemson’s pitching staff allowed 15 hits, walked 10 batters and surrendered nine extra-base hits.