No. 9 Clemson will look to stay hot when it takes on UNC Greensboro beginning Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
With conference play set to begin next weekend when Clemson (10-1) travels to Duke, the Tigers will first face a UNC Greensboro (8-4) team that already has a win on its résumé over No. 1 Wake Forest and is looking for a postseason return after making a Regional appearance in the NCAA Tournament just two years earlier.
The Spartans defeated High Point University, 13-7, earlier this week and took two of three games from Canisius at home last weekend.
For their part, the Tigers won their 10th game of the season when they defeated Kansas State, 7-5, on Wednesday. True freshman Nolan Nawrocki and Alden Mathes homered in the victory, which included five effecting innings from starter Billy Barlow.
Since Barlow started Clemson’s midweek game, Tigers coach Erik Bakich will have to go in a different direction for this weekend’s series opener.
Bakich tapped a familiar face in right-hander Austin Gordon (0-0, 4.50 ERA). who has made three appearances on the season, including two starts — both in midweek games. Gordon made 16 starts for the Tigers last year. He pitched three innings against SC Update on Feb. 27, allowing two runs and five hits in a no-decision.
Bakich will follow a familiar pattern by starting left-hander Tristan Smith Saturday and freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak on Sunday. It will be both pitchers’ fourth starts of the season — all on Saturday and Sunday.
Smith (0-0, 2.63 ERA) allowed just one run on three hits in five strong outings against South Carolina in his last outing. Knaak (1-0, 5.14 ERA) yielded three runs and four hits over five innings in his Sunday start against the Gamecocks.
UNC Greensboro is scheduled to start left-hander Noah Chapman (1-0, 2.25 ERA) Friday, followed by right-handers Jay Miller (0-0, 3.86) and Rob Ready (1-0, 3.77) Saturday and Sunday.
At the plate, Clemson is hitting .303 as a team and averaging almost eight runs per game entering the weekend. Cam Cannarella has followed up a sensational freshman season with 17 hits in 38 at-bats. He has an on-base percentage of .512 through nine games.
Nawrocki is batting .394 with three homers, a double, 13 RBIs and a .447 on-base percentage in nine games as the team’s starting third baseman. Nawrocki hit a three-run home run that staked the Tigers to an early lead in their win over Kansas State. He also a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning Sunday against South Carolina that gave Clemson the lead for good.
Series History
Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with UNC Greensboro, 4-0. The two programs last met in 2017.
Where to Watch/Stream/Listen
Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series against UNC Greensboro.
Dates: March 8-10
Start Times (ET):
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2 p.m.
Where: Doug Kingsmore Stadium
Live Stream
Video: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+
Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com