Cam Cannarella – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Preview and Where to Watch/Stream/Listen: Clemson vs. UNC Greensboro

Here’s where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s baseball series against UNC Greensboro.

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

Clemson baseball moves two spots in new USA TODAY Sports coaches poll

Clemson moved up two spots to No. 9 in the new USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll released Monday.

Clemson moved up two spots to No. 9 in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll released Monday.

The Tigers are 9-1 overall and won all three games it played last week, including a pair of 5-4 victories over rival South Carolina in the cross-state Palmetto Series.

Wake Forest (10-1) remained at No. 1 with defending national champion LSU (11-1) at No. 2. Arkansas (9-2) jumped two spots to No. 3. TCU (12-0) and Oregon State (11-1) rounded out the top five.

Texas A&M (11-0) placed sixth in the new coaches poll while Florida, last year’s College World Series runner up, fell three spots to land at No. 7. Tennessee, Clemson, and Vanderbilt rounded out the top 10.

In other polls, the Tigers stayed at No. 10 in this week’s Baseball America and D1Baseball Top 25 rankings.

Clemson will host Kansas state in midweek action Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers will then play host to UNC Greensboro in weekend series play starting Friday. All four games this coming week will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Clemson Baseball vs. South Carolina: 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 South Carolina.

Clemson will face its toughest test of the young season this weekend when it takes on rival South Carolina in the three-game cross-state series.

The Tigers (7-1 overall) are ranked 10th in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll. South Carolina (8-1) is ranked 16th in the coaches poll, but they’re No. 12 in Baseball America’s Top 25 rankings.

Through eight games this season, the Tigers have picked up pretty much where they left off last year before postseason play began.

Clemson’s offense has been hot, averaging 8.6 runs per game while batting a collective .330. Leadoff man and center fielder Cam Cannarella is off to a blistering start with 15 hits in 29 at-bats. The sophomore and 2023 ACC Freshman of the Year didn’t play in Clemson’s 12-6 victory over SC Upstate on Tuesday due to a shoulder injury he suffered a week earlier.

South Carolina defeated Gardner-Webb, 7-1, earlier this week. As a team, the Gamecocks are batting .285 and have a 2.40 staff ERA. Coach Mark Kingston’s team is averaging nine runs per game.

Former Tiger Dylan Brewer, who spent three seasons at Clemson, leads South Carolina with a .519 average (14-for-27) through the team’s first nine games. Ethan Petry (.357 average) and Cole Messina each have three home runs apiece.

For the third straight weekend, Clemson is scheduled go with right-hander Billy Barlow on the mound as its Friday starter, followed by left-hander Tristan Smith on Saturday and freshman right-hander Aiden Knaak in Sunday’s finale.

The Gamecocks are set to counter with their Friday night starter, right-hander Eli Jones. RHPs Dylan Eskew and Roman Kimball will start Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Series History

Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with South Carolina, 186-145-2. The Gamecocks are the Tigers’ most common opponent in a series that dates back to 1899. South Carolina took two of three games in last year’s series.

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 South Carolina.

Dates: Friday-Sunday, March 1-3

Start Times (EST):

Friday, 7 p.m.

Saturday, 4 p.m.

Sunday, 2 p.m.

Where:

Friday: Founders Park

Saturday: Segra Park (Columbia, S.C.)

Sunday: Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Live Stream:

Friday: SEC Network+, ESPN+

Saturday and Sunday: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com

Broadcast Teams

SEC Network Extra: Dave Weinstein, Kip Bouknight

ACC Network Extra: William Qualkinbush, Bob Mahony, Jeff Morris

Cannarella, Hinderleider power Clemson past Kennesaw State

Clemson overcame six errors on defense as well as several other mistakes that didn’t show up in the box score, to out-slug Kennesaw State, 8-6, Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

No. 8 Clemson overcame six errors on defense, as well as several other mistakes that didn’t show up in the box score, to outlast Kennesaw State, 8-6, Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (5-1 overall) totaled 14 hits in the victory.

Cam Cannarella had three hits and four RBIs as part of a 3-for-4 performance. He hit a two-run home run in the third inning and then smacked a two-run single in the fourth.

Cannarella now has 15 hits in his first 25 at-bats of the season. He has hit safely in his last 15 games dating back to last season.

Jacob Hinderleider (2-for-3) added a pair of solo home runs. One came in the third inning for the Tigers’ first run, and another came in the eighth in what would be the decisive inning in Saturday’s contest.

With Clemson trailing 6-5 entering the eighth, Hinderleider got a pitch up and out over the plate and drove it just to the left of center to tie the game at 6-apiece.

After Jack Crighton poached a single down the right field line to put the go-ahead run on base, Cannarella followed with his third hit of the day when he lined a single to the opposite field in left. A sacrifice bunt from Will Taylor advanced the runners to second and third.

After an Owls pitching change, Blake Wright lined a sharp single up the middle off Halton Hardy that allowed Crighton to score the go-ahead run to give the Tigers the lead at 7-6. Alden Mathes followed with a deep sac fly to right that plated Cannarella and made it 8-6.

Crighton finished 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored as the No. 9 hitter in Clemson’s lineup.

“Some big hits today,” Clemson coach Erik Bakich said afterwards. “Hindy’s two home runs were huge, especially the one in the eighth to tie the game. Jack, in the nine hole, to go 4-for-4 and turn the lineup over to get to Cam (who) had a monster day himself with four RBIs. He continues to be such a clutch, clutch player.”

Clemson reliever Rob Hughes closed things out in the ninth for the team’s first save of the season. After a leadoff walk issued by Ethan Darden, Hughes followed by getting Donovan Cash, Spencer Hanson, and Nick Hassan to fly out in consecutive order to end the game.

Darden (1-0) got the win in relief after recording the final out of a busy eighth inning that almost spelled doom for the Tigers.

Indeed, things were looking somewhat bleak — and a little perplexing — for Clemson for a while.

Kennesaw State took advantage of three Tigers errors in the seventh to erase a two-run deficit and grab the lead. Zac Corbin singled to lead off the inning. Then, back to back failed pickoff attempts from Lucas Malstedt allowed Corbin to take second and third. Another wild throw, leading to a passed ball charged to catcher Jimmy Overtop, allowed Corbin to tie the game.

The Owls went ahead when an off-line throw from Nolan Nawrocki sailed past first and allowed Isaac Bouton to score. Another runner tried to score on the play but was thrown out trying to cross the plate to end the inning.

Another error-plagued inning in the eighth saw the Tigers narrowly avoid falling further behind before they took the lead for good in the bottom half.

“Prettiest, ugliest, whatever you want to call it. Sometimes good teams have to win ugly,” Bakich said. “We had to overcome the self-inflicted adversity of our sloppy defense, but it was a good lesson for what it looks like when a team looks to be tentative or indecisive or whatever.”

Left-hander Tristan Smith started for Clemson but failed to make it out of the fifth inning in a no-decision. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Smith struck out six and walked two in his second weekend start of the season.

Braden Eidson (0-1) suffered the loss for Kennesaw State (3-4 overall) in relief.

“It wasn’t our best baseball by any means, but we still found a way and that’s what matters,” Bakich said. “I thought the pitchers actually pitched fine. It was more the way the innings kept getting extended, but we found a way. We evened this (series) up. We’re just going to have to find a way to play better (Sunday) if we want to win this series.”

The rubber match of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST Sunday. Freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak is scheduled to face Kennesaw State’s Smith Pinson. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Kennesaw State blows out Clemson in series opener

Kennesaw State used a long home run from Donovan Cash to build a 7-0 lead en route to a 19-1 blowout victory over Clemson Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Kennesaw State used a long home run from Donovan Cash to build a big lead early en route to an 18-1 blowout victory over Clemson Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

In the team’s first defeat of the season, Clemson (4-1 overall) starter Billy Barlow (1-1) yielded five runs in just two-plus innings of work. The right-hander allowed eight hits to go with two walks.

Kennesaw State (3-3 overall) put the game out of reach with an eight-run fifth inning off Clemson relievers Nick Clayton and Justin LeGuernic that made the score 13-0. The Owls batted 13 times in the inning and totaled five hits, including a trio of two-run singles from Brayden Eidson, Nick Hassan, and Jamarie Brooks.

A bases-loaded walk allowed another run to cross the plate, as did a fielding error from shortstop Andrew Ciufo. Clayton and LeGuernic allowed four runs apiece. Rocco Reid and Ty Olenchuk allowed a combined five runs in four innings of relief.

Hassan (4-for-6) and Jackson Chirello (4-for-5) each had four hits in the game and drove in a combined eight runs.

For their part, the Tigers managed just one hit against Owls starter Braden Osbolt (1-0) in his six shutout innings of work. That hit was in the first inning when Cam Cannarella led off with a sharp single. Osbolt struck out seven and allowed just three baserunners afterwards.

Kennesaw State outhit Clemson, 20-5. Clemson freshman Brodey Conn homered in the eighth inning for the Tigers’ only run of the game.

Left-hander Tristan Smith is slated to start for the Tigers against Kennesaw State’s Blake Aita in the second game of this weekend’s series. Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST. The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Where to Watch/Stream/Listen: Clemson Baseball vs. Kennesaw State

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, stream, listen and follow this weekend’s series against Kennesaw State.

After scoring 33 runs in its season-opening sweep of Xavier last weekend, Clemson will look to continue its hot start when the Tigers begin a three-game set against Kennesaw State Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (4-0 overall) are ranked No. 8 in the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) poll this week and No. 9 in the USA TODAY Baseball Coaches Poll.

Against Xavier, Clemson cranked six home runs and out-hit their opponent, 38-15.

The Tigers followed that up with a midweek victory over Presbyterian on Tuesday, using a five-run seventh inning to earn an 8-2 win. Freshman Jarren Purify made his first collegiate hit a memorable one when he went deep in the seventh for a grand slam that broke the game wide open.

Centerfielder Cam Cannarella has 10 hits in his first 18 at-bats atop the Clemson lineup to start the season while second baseman Blake Wright has six hits in 18 at-bats. Alden Mathes, Nolan Nawrocki, Andrew Ciufo and Jimmy Overtop all have five hits.

On the bump, Clemson plans to use the same three starters this weekend as it did against Xavier. Right-hander Billy Barlow is scheduled to start Friday’s series opener with southpaw Tristan Smith slated to go Saturday. Freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak is scheduled to start Sunday’s game.

Kennesaw State lists RHPs Braden Osbolt, Blake Aita, and Smith Pinson as its probable starters. The Owls (2-3) dropped two of three to UAB in their opening series in Birmingham before splitting a pair of midweek contests. They fell 9-3 to Mercer on Tuesday before earning a 4-2 victory over Wofford the following day.

Series History

The two teams have met four times previously, all Clemson victories. The Tigers won a pair of midweek contests against the Owls last season

How to Watch

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series against Kennesaw State.

Dates: Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25

Start Times (EST): Friday, 5 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, 2 p.m.

Where: Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Live Stream: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com

Broadcast Teams

ACC Network Extra: Don Munson, Bob Mahony (Friday, Sunday); Faxon Childress, Ron Smith (Saturday)

Seventh inning slam helps propel Clemson past Presbyterian, 8-2

A five-run seventh inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Jarren Purify lifted No. 10 Clemson past Presbyterian, 8-2, Tuesday.

A five-run seventh inning, highlighted by a grand slam from freshman Jarren Purify, lifted No. 9 Clemson past Presbyterian, 8-2, Tuesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

It was the first collegiate hit for Purify, the freshman from Detroit’s University Liggett High School who was named the city’s 2023 Prep Baseball Player of the Year.

The Tigers outhit Presbyterian, 10-3, to run their record to 4-0.

Clemson clung to a 3-2 lead to start the seventh inning when Alden Mathes walked and stole second. One out later, Andrew Ciufo singled and stole second to put runners in scoring position.

Caden Barnett then hit Jacob Jarrell with a pitch just above the eye to load the bases. Jarrell would have to leave the game temporarily and was replaced on the bases by Tryston McCladdie.

Jack Crighton drew a bases-loaded walk on five pitches to extend Clemson’s lead to 4-2. Then came the big blow. Purify’s grand slam was the Tigers’ third of the season. It landed in the left field grandstands to make the score 8-2.

That was all the offense Clemson needed. Prior to that, the Tigers got a pair of solo home runs from Cam Cannarella and Jimmy Obertop.

It was the first home run in a Clemson uniform for Obertop, who also delivered a run-scoring single in the fourth inning. Obertop, the senior transfer from Michigan, and Cannarella both finished 3-for-5 to lead the Tigers’ offense.

Clemson used four pitchers in Tuesday’s win. Austin Gordon started and pitched two scoreless innings. Gordon walked two but didn’t allow a hit.

Right-hander Joe Allen followed Gordon with four solid innings in relief to get the win. Allen (1-0) allowed two runs on two hits but retired 12 of the 17 batters he faced on 46 pitches. Ethan Darden added two scoreless innings in relief, and Ty Olenchuck closed things out with a scoreless ninth inning on 14 pitches.

According to Clemson broadcaster and former Sports Information Director Tim Bourret, Tuesday’s win was the 2,999th victory in Clemson baseball history.

The Tigers return to Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday when they open a three-game weekend series with Kennesaw State. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST.

Clemson baseball beats Xavier, 8-3

No. 9 Clemson used a four-run fourth inning to power past Xavier for the second straight day in a 8-3 victory Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (2-0 overall) erased a 1-0 deficit in the fourth when freshman Nolan Nawrocki lined a double to left-center to score Cooper Blauser and tie the game. Cam Cannarella followed with a two-run single to left to give the Tigers their first lead at 3-1. That chased Xavier starter Nolan Hughes from the game after 84 pitches.

After a throwing error by Xavier shortstop Donovan Canterberry, Cannarella slid under the tag of catcher Matthew DePrey to extend the Tigers’ lead to 4-1.

Clemson added a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth inning for insurance. In the fifth, Jacob Hinderleider lined a two-run double down the left field line to give the Tigers a 6-2 lead. A pair of solo home runs from Blake Wright and Andrew Cuifo followed in the sixth to extend the lead to 8-2.

Wright (2-for-5), Cuifo (2-for-3), Nawrocki (2-for-4) and Hinderleider (2-for-4) all had two hits apiece for Clemson. The Tigers outhit the Musketeers, 10-4.

Xavier’s offense consisted of three solo home runs — two from third baseman Luke Hammond and a pinch-hit homer by Aedan Anderson in the seventh inning.

Hughes (0-1) suffered the loss for Xavier. He was charged four runs (three earned) after allowing four hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings.

Left-hander Tristan Smith (1-0) was given the win for Clemson despite throwing just four innings. Smith allowed only one run on one hit. He struck out five, walked two and threw 71 pitches, 43 for strikes.

Clemson got three innings in relief from senior right-hander Nick Clayton. Clayton allowed two runs but struck out five of 12 batters faced. Lucas Mahlstedt closed out the game with two scoreless innings.

The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST Sunday. Nick Boyle is scheduled to start for Xavier against Clemson freshman Aidan Knaak. The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.

Big bats power Clemson past Xavier in season opener

A look at Clemson’s season-opening 14-3 win over Xavier Friday.

Clemson played like a team that had waited all offseason to break out the big bats — some new and some old.

The Tigers did that in a big way in their first game of the season Friday. Powered by grand slams from newcomers Alden Mathes and Nolan Nawrocki, Clemson routed Xavier, 14-3, in the season opener for both schools at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (1-0 overall), ranked No. 9 in the USA TODAY Baseball Coaches Poll, scored early and often.

A first-inning grand slam by Mathes in his first Clemson at-bat helped stake the team to an early 4-2 lead. Mathis slapped a fastball 372 feet off Xavier starter Luke Hoskins into the right field bleachers to give the Tigers the early lead. It was part of four consecutive hits to start the half-inning.

Cam Cannarella lined a three-run double off the wall in left to up the lead to 7-2. It was Cannarella’s second hit of the inning after he’d reached base on a single earlier.

Freshman Cooper Blauser, son of former Atlanta Braves shortstop Jeff Blauser, homered in the third inning for his first Clemson hit to extend the lead to 8-2.

In the fourth, the Tigers hit another grand slam when Nawrocki, a former Michigan pledge, sent a drive to left off reliever Terry Murray to make it 12-2.

Clemson capped its scoring in the eighth inning with two runs. Nathan Hall picked up an RBI single, and Jacob Hinderleider was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Cannarella (3-for-5), the Tigers’ All-American in his freshman season a year ago, had three hits atop the lineup. The Tigers outhit the Musketeers, 14-5.

On the mound, Billy Barlow (1-0) started for Clemson and pitched five innings. After allowing a pair of runs early, he yielded just one hit after the first inning. Barlow threw 68 pitches and gave up three hits total. He retired the last seven batters he faced.

Drew Titsworth made his collegiate debut in relief, tossing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. He allowed just one hit and struck out three.

Hoskins (0-1) suffered the loss for Xavier. He allowed seven runs on nine hits in two innings.

The series is set to resume Saturday at 2 p.m. EST. Tristan Smith is scheduled to start for Clemson against Xavier left-hander Nolan Hughes. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Clemson star named the No.1 college prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft

Cam Cannarella has been named the No. 1 college prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft by Baseball America.

Clemson baseball has a star in Cam Cannarella, who was recently acknowledged as the top overall draft prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft.

Baseball America released their top 10 college prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft, with Cannarella earning the No.1 spot in the rankings. Cannarella was a first-team All-ACC member and the ACC’s Freshman of the Year while earning first-team All-American honors from multiple places.

Last season, Cannarella hit .388 with 72 runs, 16 doubles, three triples, seven homers, and 47 RBIs while posting a .560 slugging percentage, .462 on-base percentage, and 24 steals in 59 games (59 starts in center field). Here is what writer Peter Flaherty had to say about the Tigers’ star.

Cannarella enjoyed a sensational freshman season, in which he hit .388/.462/.560 with 16 doubles, seven home runs, 47 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. He was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and earned an invitation to Team USA.

Cannarella has a wiry and athletic frame at 6’, 175-pounds. He has an open stance in the box with a semi-high handset. While there are some moving parts in his swing, he is consistently on time and in a good hitter’s position. Bottom line, he makes it work. Cannarella has above-average bat speed and uses all fields, but his ability to generate quality contact to the opposite field is especially impressive. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills, as in 2023 he had a 93% IZ contact rate, including a video game–like 97% IZ contact rate against fastballs. Simply put, you are not going to beat him with the heater.

We can expect a big season from the sophomore as the Tigers look to make another run.