Unbeaten Tigers host UCF for weekend series |
The Tigers continue their homestand with a three-game series against UCF this weekend.
SERIES SETUP • Who – UCF (3-1) vs. Clemson (4-0) • Best Ranking – UCF – NR; CU – NR • When – Friday (4 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.), Sunday (1 p.m.) • Where – Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium) • Watch – ACC Network Extra • Video Announcers – Marty Clary (Saturday, Sunday), Fred Cunningham (Saturday), Jeff Morris (Friday), Pete Yanity (Friday, Sunday) • Listen (Radio) – Clemson Athletic Network (locally on WCCP (105.5 FM)) • Listen (Internet) – ClemsonTigers.com • Live Stats – ClemsonTigers.com • Social Media – ClemsonBaseball • Tickets – ClemsonTigers.com, 1-800-CLEMSON SERIES HISTORY • Overall Record – Clemson leads 5-3 (1998-08) • Record at Clemson – UCF leads 2-1 (2004) STARTING PITCHERS • Friday – RHP Ruddy Gomez (UCF - 1-0, 6.35 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Ammons (CU - 1-0, 1.80) • Saturday – RHP Cameron Leiter (UCF - 0-0, 2.08) vs. RHP Austin Gordon (CU - 0-0, 1.59) • Sunday – RHP Dom Stagliano (UCF - 1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jay Dill (CU - 1-0, 0.00) CLEMSON OVERVIEW • Clemson, who has a 4-0 home record, defeated Charlotte 9-5 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. • The Tigers are averaging 10.5 runs per game and hitting .345 with a .576 slugging percentage, .453 on-base percentage and 21 steals. • The pitching staff has a 2.50 ERA, .256 opponents’ batting average and 2.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .974. UCF OVERVIEW • UCF, who has yet to play a road game and is averaging 9.5 runs per game, is led by seventh-year Head Coach Greg Lovelady. • The Knights fell at home 13-3 to Florida Atlantic on Tuesday. They are hitting .312 and have a 4.76 ERA and .959 fielding percentage. • Ben McCabe is hitting .438 with four homers and eight RBIs, while Brady Shannon is batting .418 with two home runs and five RBIs. QUICK HITS • Clemson has won 13 consecutive home games dating to 2022, its longest such streak since starting the 2018 season with 14 straight home wins. • Tiger pitchers have combined to allow only one extra-base hit this season. • Clemson’s four starting pitchers entered this year with a combined two career starts. They are 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 18 strikeouts. BLACKWELL GLAD HE RETURNED • Senior infielder Benjamin Blackwell decided late in the process last summer to return for his fifth collegiate season in 2023. • The Tigers are glad he did, and he is putting up big numbers along the way, including a team-high eight stolen bases. • He is hitting .538 with a double, triple, six RBIs, three runs, four walks and a .647 on-base percentage in four games in 2023. • He has a solid .938 fielding percentage as Clemson’s starting shortstop, committing only one error in 16 chances. • In his two-year Tiger career, he is hitting .339 with 11 doubles, two triples, three homers, 39 RBIs, 55 runs and 12 steals in 62 games. SWIPING BAGS • A key to Clemson's run-scoring success (10.5 runs per game) has been its ability to steal bases, as it has 21 in four games (5.3 per game). • The 21 steals are already approaching the 2022 Clemson season total of 32 steals in 58 games. • Clemson totaled 17 steals in the season-opening series against Binghamton, including 11 in the season opener, one shy of the school record. • Seven different Tigers have contributed to the team's total of 21 stolen bases. • Benjamin Blackwell leads the team with eight steals, while Cam Cannarella, Caden Grice and Blake Wright have three steals apiece.
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