CLEMSON — Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich is hoping history will repeat itself as the Tigers face elimination.

The No. 6 overall seed and NCAA super regional host fell 10-7 Saturday to Florida (33-28) after the Gators scored seven runs in the fifth inning to take Game 1. They will battle each other again Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). If Clemson (44-15) wins, it would force a Game 3 on Monday.

"When I was here '02, we lost the first game in the super regional to Arkansas," Bakich said. "In 2010, the program lost the first game with Coach (Jack) Leggett to Alabama, so we're still alive."

The second-year Tigers coach is confident his team will respond like those teams. In 2002, they were at home, where lost 9-6 to Arkansas but responded with an 8-7 victory in Game 2 and a 7-4 win in Game 3 to make the College World Series.

In 2010, Clemson fell 5-4 at home to Alabama but bounced back to win 19-5 in Game 2 and 8-6 on the finale to advance to Omaha, Nebraska. Both teams advanced to the College World Series semifinals before losing two straight.

"You reference it just for the familiarity, knowing that guys who sat in their seats and wore their shoes have done it the same way," Bakich said.

With more than 6,000 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday and more at McWhorter Stadium, Clemson's softball venue, viewers wanted a repeat performance of the Tigers' regional wins. But Florida spoiled Clemson's first super regional game since 2010.

Still, right fielder Alden Mathes is optimistic about Clemson's chances.

SPREAD THE WEALTH: Dabo Swinney, Clemson football assistants will share $100,000 in bonuses. Here's why

"I'd say our confidence isn't altered at all," he said. "Obviously, it hurts a little bit to lose Game 1, but there's no doubt in our minds that we're going out there tomorrow and winning Game 2."

One statistic is not in Clemson's favor: 78% of Game 1 super regional winners advance to the College World Series, according to ESPN. Florida also is hitting its stride on the road despite having a 12-12 record away from home.

Like those past Clemson teams that faltered in Game 1 but won two straight to head to the College World Series, Bakich is hopeful his team will do the same.

"We're gonna do it or die trying," he said.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson baseball ready for Game 2 vs Florida in super regionals