Attitude change helps Tigers reverse fortunes

CLEMSON — A dropoff in competition has aided Clemson's five-game winning streak, but Matt Vaughn said the changed fortunes have been fueled by a change in attitude.

"We're more relaxed," said Vaughn, the Tigers' junior closer. "We're not really pressing as much as we had been. We've got a few wins under our belt, and we're back to playing loose again."

Clemson's newfound serenity will be put to the test starting tonight at 7, when No. 5 Florida State visits Doug Kingsmore Stadium for the opener of a three-game series.

The stakes can't get much higher as the Tigers (24-20, 10-13-1 ACC) fight for their postseason lives. Whether this team extends its streak of 21 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances — the third-longest streak in college baseball history — could be determined in this series and in next week's conference finale at Georgia Tech.

Florida State (37-7, 19-5) is 14-4 on opponents' home fields. The Seminoles are averaging 9.3 runs per game and have scored double-digit runs 22 times this season.

Fresh off a break for final exams, Clemson didn't appear to be cowering at the specter of facing the Seminoles as it convened for practice late Friday afternoon. This is a group that's feeling good about itself, even if the source of these good vibes were wins over Virginia Tech, Presbyterian and Western Carolina.

"I've always felt good, like this team had a chance to continue to improve," said 15th-year coach Jack Leggett, whose team is a little more than two weeks removed from an 11-game losing streak, the longest in school history. "We're young, and we've got some good leadership on the team."

The Tigers are also hitting the ball after suffering through a gruesome offensive stretch during and before the losing streak. After going 19 straight games without scoring more than six runs — another school record — they've amassed 43 runs in the past four. After registering double-figure hit totals just twice over that 19-game stretch, they've done it six times in the past eight games.

"If we keep hitting," Leggett said, "we've got a chance to keep that confidence going. That carries us, to be honest with you."

Leggett is hoping it carries his team into the ACC Tournament. The top eight finishers earn a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., and Clemson is positioned in seventh ahead of Duke (8-14-1), Wake Forest (8-15) and Maryland (8-16).

Baseball America is already projecting Clemson to make the NCAAs. College baseball analyst Aaron Fitt has the Tigers, who have an RPI of 36, going to Cal-State Fullerton as a No. 3 seed.

"With a 10-13 conference record, Clemson has some work to do to secure an at-large bid," Fitt wrote. "But its Ratings Percentage Index is decent, and wins against likely regional teams North Carolina State, Coastal Carolina, Elon and College of Charleston help the Tigers' cause."

Leggett agrees with that assessment, citing the ACC's standing as the nation's top conference in the RPI.

But as good as all that sounds, and as good as his team's disposition appears to be, Leggett knows everything could rapidly shift into reverse if things don't go well against the Seminoles.

"We've got our own fate in our hands," he said.

Pitching plans

Clemson will send junior right-hander D.J. Mitchell to the mound tonight, followed by redshirt freshman righty Graham Stoneburner on Sunday at 7 p.m. Leggett said he hasn't decided on a starter for Monday's 4 p.m. game; junior lefty Ryan Hinson has been struggling, and junior Trey Delk could start in his place.

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/>