There was frustration, sure. A late-innings ejection from the pitching coach, of all people, summed that up Monday night at Plainsman Park.

Creede Simpson’s fingers flickered on the handle of his bat as Clemson’s Tomas Cruz stared him down, one strike away from sending the visitors to their ninth NCAA Super Regional.

Clemson coach Jack Leggett’s reaction to Auburn’s dramatic, 11-10 comeback victory was brief and to the point.

Auburn’s players have said all year that they rise to the occasion when their backs are against the wall.

By the end of the first inning, after it was clear starter Todd McInnis “didn’t have it,” Southern Miss’ Collin Cargill was in his coach’s ear to get in the game.

A number of fans — whether they were packed shoulder to shoulder in a Plainsman Park seat, laying on a blanket behind the right-center field wall or standing somewhere on the parking garage that looks over the third-base line — probably caught their first in-person…

After a first day in which favorites prevailed at Plainsman Park — although the host Tigers might have cut it a little close for their comfort — No. 14 Auburn and No. 20 Clemson meet tonight for a berth in Sunday’s region final.

Relaxed in a chair after his team’s lopsided 10-1 victory over Southern Miss on Friday, Clemson coach Jack Leggett was asked if his team had played a more well-rounded game all season.