No. 9 Clemson travels to Durham this weekend to take on No. 3 Duke at Jack Coombs Field in the Tigers’ opening series in ACC play.
Clemson (15-1 overall) won its 11th straight game earlier this week when the Tigers swept Manhattan in midweek play by a combined score of 18-2.
The Tigers have averaged over eight runs per game this season and their only loss was a weekend series opener to Kennesaw State three weeks ago. As a unit, Clemson is batting .318 with a slugging percentage of .538. They have a collective on-base percentage of .429.
Alden Mathes leads the team with a .388 average (19-for-49) in 15 games. Sophomore Cam Cannarella has been the pulse at the top of the Tigers’ lineup and is batting .385 with a team-best six doubles and 17 RBIS. Second baseman Blake Wright has driven in 14 runs and is tied for the team lead in home runs with Will Taylor with five.
Tristan Bissetta has played his way into the lineup of late, totaling six hits in his last 12 at-bats entering Friday’s series.
On the mound for Clemson, sophomore southpaw Tristan Smith has been the Tigers’ best starter this season. He’s held opponents to a .180 average in four starts and is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 18 2/3 innings.
Right-handers Rob Hughes and Drew Titsworth have each thrown six-plus innings in relief without a run being charged to them.
Duke (14-3 overall, 2-1 ACC) is ranked No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, but they’re No. 3 in Baseball America’s Top 25 rankings and ranked No. 6 by D1Baseball.com. The Blue Devils took two of three from previously No. 1-ranked Wake Forest last weekend.
The team is averaging 10 runs per game and batting .338 with a staff ERA of 3.30 ERA. Third baseman Ben Miller leads Duke with a .449 average in 17 games. Miller had a 4-for-5 performance against Wake Forest on March 8 that included two doubles. He finished with six hits in that weekend’s series.
Miller and second baseman Zac Morris lead Duke with seven home runs apiece. Miller’s 22 RBIs is tied for the team lead with outfielder A.J. Garcia.
The Blue Devils split a pair of midweek contests with Rider earlier this week, including an 18-4 victory on Wednesday.
Duke is is scheduled to start left-hander Jonathan Santucci (3-0, 2.29 ERA) Friday, followed by left-hander Andrew Healy (1-1, 5.63) Saturday. The Blue Devils’ Sunday’s starter has yet to be announced.
Austin Gordon (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will start Friday’s opener for Clemson, followed by Smith on Saturday and freshman right-hander Aiden Knaak (1-0, 4.05 ERA) on Sunday.
Series History
Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with Duke, 131-77-2. The series dates back to 1904. Duke took two of three in last season’s series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Where to Watch/Stream/Listen
Here’s a look at where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series.
Dates: March 15-17
Start Times (ET):
Friday, 6 p.m.
Saturday: 3 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m.
Where: Jack Coombs Field
Broadcast Info
Video: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+
Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com