Not again, Virginia: latest one-run loss to Cavs has Tigers in bounce-back mode

Daniel Gossett did his job, again.

Clemson lost to Virginia, again.

What is it about the Tigers and Cavaliers?

"I don't know, man - if you know, you let me know," said Gossett, who left the Tigers with a 5-2 lead after seven innings, only to see the 12th-ranked Cavaliers rally with three runs in the top of the ninth and then win 6-5 with a solo homer in the 11th inning Friday night.

"They're a good team - a great team. They swing the bat very well, play solid defense and have great pitching. They're a good team all around, so it's tough to beat 'em. We know that, and we try to attack them just like we attack every other team. We just came out on the wrong side tonight."

Gossett has pitched effectively in the last two of Clemson's nine straight losses to Virginia, including a 3-2 setback last season in the opening round of the ACC tournament.

The Tigers have dropped 19 of their last 21 games to the Cavaliers, and haven't won a series against Virginia since 2005. Clemson's nine-game losing streak includes five one-run setbacks.

Has another team ever had Clemson's number to this extent?

"I don't know, I haven't thought about it," said Tiger coach Jack Leggett. "I told the guys to get rid of this one. We had ourselves in position to win and didn't take care of our business at the end of the ball game. We've got a decision to make - are we going to let this leak into tomorrow, or we going to come out and play? That's all there is to it."

Though his own work for the weekend is done, Gossett believes the Tigers will bounce back

"That's just baseball, you know," Gossett said. "You come out every day and play your best game and see what happens. Sometimes it's mean to you, and sometimes it's great to you. You just have to go perform, every time out.

"I've still go 100 percent confidence in the bullpen behind him. I know those guys can do their jobs...

"We're going to be fine. We've got a bunch of young guys and they're all players. They're all eager to get the job done. This was a tough loss, but I think we'll fight back."

The Tigers will take their next shot at Virginia on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Freshman righthander Clate Schmidt (2-0, 1.56 ERA), while the Cavaliers will counter with senior lefthander Scott Silverstein (3-0, 1.85 ERA).