Tag: Clemson Baseball News

Former Clemson player commits to this SEC program after entering transfer portal

Former Clemson pitcher Billy Barlow committed to the Florida Gators Friday.

One of the few names Clemson baseball lost in the transfer portal this month after their season ended in the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament was right-hander Billy Barlow.

The team Barlow announced his commitment to? The Florida Gators, the same program that ended Clemson’s season back on June 9 in the Clemson Super Regional.

Barlow made the announcement in a social media post to X, formerly Twitter, Friday morning.

A Clemson pitcher for three seasons (2022-24), Barlow completed his sophomore campaign for the Tigers in 2024. He was primarily the team’s midweek starter, posting a 6-1 record and 4.28 ERA in 15 appearances, including 10 starts. He logged 48 1/3 innings.

Barlow was on the mound in the Tigers’ season-ending loss to Florida on June 9, pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief without allowing a run or hit.

The North Myrtle Beach, S.C., native made 15 starts for Clemson in 2022, going 2-4 with a 4.84 ERA. He made only three appearances in 2023 before injuries ended his season.

Barlow is one of four Clemson players from Erik Bakich’s 2024 team that entered the transfer portal, joining outfielder Nathan Hall and infielders Cooper Blauser and Nolan Nawrocki — the latter who entered the portal earlier Friday. Hall committed to South Carolina earlier this week.

The Tigers have also landed two known commitments in the transfer portal. Former Purdue first baseman Luke Gaffney committed to Clemson on Wednesday after being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2024, and former Indiana State outfielder Dominic Listi committed to the Tigers on June 15.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

Clemson baseball lands massive commitment in transfer portal

Erik Bakich made quite a big splash in the transfer portal Wednesday. The Tigers landed a commitment from the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Luke Gaffney.

The Clemson baseball team made a big splash in the transfer portal on Wednesday with the commitment of former Purdue first baseman Luke Gaffney, the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

As a redshirt freshman, Gaffney batted a team-best .359 in 59 games (all starts) for the Boilermakers. He set Purdue freshman records for home runs (13), RBIs (64), hits (75), runs scored (62) and slugging percentage (.646), finishing with a 1.095 OPS. A right-handed batter, Gaffney was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times.

Gaffney announced his commitment to Clemson in a social media post to Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8sCbE_O49_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Listed as 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Gaffney committed to Purdue out of Boyle County High School in Danville, Ky, in 2022. Perfect Game rated him the No. 3 overall catcher in the Bluegrass State for the class of 2022.

Gaffney is the third player the Tigers and coach Erik Bakich have added via the transfer portal since their season ended in the Clemson Super Regional on June 9. Over the weekend, the Tigers picked up a commitment from former Michigan infielder Collin Priest, who batted .279 with 11 home runs, 11 doubles and 30 RBIs in 56 games this past season.

Earlier this month, Clemson also received a commitment from former Indiana State outfielder Dominic Listi. Listi hit .324 with 14 doubles, three home runs and 31 RBIs in 59 games this past season.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

Clemson baseball alum named head coach at The Citadel

Russell Triplett, who played four seasons for Clemson between 2001-04, is the new head baseball coach at The Citadel.

The Citadel has a new head baseball coach, and it’s a former Clemson Tigers player.

Russell Triplett was named The Citadel’s coach on Wednesday, marking his second NCAA head coaching job. Triplett had previously spent the past 14 seasons as head coach at Newberry College.

He compiled a record of 418-278-1 as head coach at Newberry and guided the program to its first NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament appearance and victory. Triplett was a volunteer assistant on Clemson’s coaching staff in 2007 under Jack Leggett.

“The opportunity to take the helm of a program with as much history, tradition and pure grit as The Citadel is a dream come true,” Triplett said in a news release provided by The Citadel. “The entire process of interviewing for this position has been incredibly fulfilling, and I’d like to personally thank The Citadel’s president, Gen. Walters, The Citadel Director of Athletics Mike Capaccio and every member of the search committee for putting their faith in my background, my experience and my vision. The Citadel ranks as one of those ‘special places’ within the college baseball community, and my entire family and I are thrilled to embrace the unique culture and dedicated alumni base that makes this institution exceptional.”

As a player, Triplett played for the Tigers from 2001-04 after redshirting in 2000. He played in 222 games in four seasons and had a career batting average of .312. Triplett was a member of four NCAA Tournament teams as a player, including Clemson’s 2002 squad that reached the semifinal round of the College World Series in Omaha.

After Clemson, Triplett spent time in the New York Mets organization as a minor league infielder from 2004-05. He was named head coach at Newberry in May 2010.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

Clemson player enters transfer portal

Outfielder Nathan Hall is the latest Clemson player to enter the transfer portal.

Another Clemson Tigers player has entered the transfer portal.

Sophomore outfielder Nathan Hall has entered the portal following Clemson’s season-ending loss to the Florida Gators in last Sunday’s Clemson Super Regional, according to a report from On3.

Hall saw limited playing time in an outfield that consisted of sophomore sensation Cam Cannarella, Alden Mathes, Tristan Bissetta and others in 2024, appearing in 12 games (four starts). He batted .227 (5 for 22) with a double and three RBIs this season.

A native of Lexington, South Carolina, Hall played in 39 games for the Tigers as a freshman in 2023, batting .243 (18 for 74) with an on-base percentage of .321. He hit one home run, three doubles and totaled 12 RBIs that season.

Hall is the third Clemson player to hit the transfer portal after the conclusion of the Tigers’ season. Infielder Cooper Blauser, the son of former Atlanta Braves shortstop Jeff Blauser, entered the transfer portal earlier this week.

Right-hander Billy Barlow also entered the portal this week after appearing in 15 games (10 starts) with Clemson this season. Barlow was used primarily as a midweek starter and went 6-1 with a 4.28 ERA while logging 48 1/3 innings. He struck out 42 batters and walked 20. Opponents batted .259 against Barlow.

The Tigers added a commitment via the transfer portal Saturday in former Indiana State outfielder Dominic Listi.

RELATED: Clemson lands impact player in the transfer portal

The transfer portal for college baseball players opened June 3. The deadline for players to enter is July 2.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

Opinion – Paul Mainieri is what Clemson vs. South Carolina, college baseball rivalries need

New South Carolina coach Paul Mainieri added a touch of spice to the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry this week.

College baseball needs good rivalries, and Clemson already has what many consider to be the best in the sport with in-state rival South Carolina.

Earlier this year, Clemson head coach Erik Bakich called the Palmetto Series “the best rivalry in college baseball.”

I’m inclined to agree.

On Thursday of this week, new South Carolina coach Paul Mainieri added a little more juice to the rivalry when he referenced Clemson at his introductory press conference in Columbia.

Specifically, Mainieri referred to Clemson as “the team up north.” He also took a shot at the Upstate region.

“Being in the midlands is a lot better than being in the Upstate. I can promise you that,” Mainieri quipped.

Shots fired.

Mainieri is no stranger to college baseball rivalries. At LSU, where he won the national championship in the College World Series in 2009, Mainieri and the elite players he recruited made annual rivalries with Ole Miss, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi State, South Carolina and other SEC programs compelling, must-see TV.

True, Mainieri is no master of the verbal putdown like Steve Spurrier (another former Gamecocks coach). He’s not an acid-tongued former Major League Baseball skipper like the fiery Ozzie Guillen or the late Billy Martin.

But Mainieri is the active leader in career Division I victories (1,505), having spent 15 seasons at LSU and leading the Tigers to the College World Series five times. He twice earned SEC Coach of the Year honors and won four National Coach of the Year awards.

With that comes a big of swagger — and a little jousting at Mainieri’s new in-state rival.

“I had a few dealings with Monte Lee when he was the head coach at Clemson,” Mainieri began before trailing off and making his “team up north” comment.

Mainieri maintained Lee as his associate head coach after taking the Gamecocks’ job. Lee had been interim coach after South Carolina fired Mark Kingston following the Gamecocks’ season-ending loss to James Madison in the Raleigh Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

Unlike at LSU, Mainieri won’t have an entire state to himself with few, if any, authentic rivalries. No offense to Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana Tech, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana or even Tulane, but those programs aren’t consistently on the same level as LSU — or Clemson.

That’s why Mainieri’s entrance in the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry (and the subsequent comments he made Thursday) is a good thing for fans and the competitive juices that flow in both the Tigers and Gamecocks programs.

Bakich said that he treats Clemson vs. South Carolina with utmost respect.

“We don’t just start talking about South Carolina this week,” Bakich said when the two programs met for their annual non-conference series in early March. “It’s something that… it’s Clemson-South Carolina. It’s the best in college baseball. I know there’s some other good rivalries out there: Army-Navy, Michigan-Ohio State, but this is the best I’ve seen in college baseball, and it’s not even close.”

With Mainieri’s hiring and digs at Clemson, the best rivalry in college baseball just got even better.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

Clemson infielder announces his return to Tigers in social media post

Andrew Ciufo, who played in 27 games as a shortstop for coach Erik Bakich’s team, announced he would return to Clemson for the 2025 season.

Clemson infielder Andrew Ciufo has a message for Tiger fans: he’s coming back.

Ciufo announced in a social media post to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday that he would be returning to the program for another season in 2025.

The 23-year-old batted .280 in 27 games as the team’s starting shortstop in 2024, tallying five extra base hits and 16 RBIs. He suffered a season-ending injury (torn ACL) in the Tigers’ 3-1 victory at Notre Dame on April 6.

A transfer from Georgetown, Ciufo hit a memorable walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning in a 5-4 victory over South Carolina on March 2 at Columbia’s Segra Park.

“I will be returning for the 2025 season!” CIufo wrote in his social media post. “Team 128 has unfinished business, and I am pumped to be a part of another special team.”

Clemson’s season ended Sunday in an 11-10 loss to the Florida Gators in the Super Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

Cam Cannarella, Aidan Knaak earn All-America honors

Two Clemson baseball players earned All-American honors Wednesday.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Sophomore outfielder Cam Cannarella (Hartsville, S.C.) and freshman righthander Aidan Knaak (Fort Myers, Fla.) were named third-team All-Americans by NCBWA on Wednesday. They are Clemson’s 67th and 68th All-Americans in history. It marked the second time in as many years that Clemson had multiple All-Americans in one season.

Cannarella, a first-team freshman All-American and ACC Freshman-of-the-Year in 2023, hit .337 with 16 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, 60 RBIs, 58 runs and a .417 on-base percentage in 58 games in 2024 while battling injury for his last 54 games. He also led the team with 29 multiple-hit games.

In his career, Cannarella is hitting .363 with 32 doubles, six triples, 18 homers, 107 RBIs, 130 runs, a .440 on-base percentage and 24 steals in 117 games.

Knaak, the NCBWA National Freshman Pitcher-of-the-Year, was 5-1 with a 3.35 ERA, .221 opponents’ batting average and 108 strikeouts against 29 walks in 83.1 innings pitched over 15 starts in 2024. He led the team in starts on the mound, innings pitched and strikeouts. His 108 strikeouts were the most by a Tiger freshman in history and the most by any Clemson pitcher since 2017 (Charlie Barnes).

Clemson had a 13-2 record in the 15 starts by Knaak, who only allowed 14 extra-base hits. He was 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA, .208 opponents’ batting average and 75 strikeouts against 15 walks in 53.0 innings pitched in nine ACC starts as well.

Knaak became the fourth Tiger freshman in history to earn All-America honors, joining Taylor Harbin (2005), the late Reed Rohlman (2015) and Seth Beer (2016). Knaak also became the first Tiger freshman pitcher to earn All-America accolades.

Erik Bakich discusses Clemson’s loss to Florida in Super Regional

Here’s everything Clemson coach Erik Bakich had to say after the Tigers fell 10-7 to Florida in Game 1 of the Super Regional on Saturday.

A seven-run fifth inning lifted the Florida Gators to a 10-7 victory over the Clemson Tigers in Game 1 of the Clemson Super Regional Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Florida (32-28) erupted for seven runs on four hits, three walks and an error to erase a 4-2 deficit en route to the victory.

RELATED: Seven-run inning sinks Clemson in Super Regional Game 1 loss to Florida

Jac Caglianone hit a three-run homer as part of the fifth-inning onslaught, his 32nd of the season. The Gators also got run-scoring hits from Michael Robertson and Luke Heyman that inning.

Right-hander Brandon Neely closed things out with four scoreless innings in relief to put Clemson (44-15) in a win-or-go-home game Sunday when the two teams meet for Game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EDT. The game can be seen on ESPN. Right-hander Aidan Knaak will start for Clemson and face Caglianone.

After Saturday’s game, Clemson coach Erik Bakich and Alden Mathes met with reporters to discuss the loss. Here’s a video of everything the coach and Tigers’ leadoff hitter had to say.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

For coverage of the Florida Gators, head over to Gators Wire.

Seven-run inning sinks Clemson in Super Regional Game 1 loss to Florida

Florida used a seven-run fifth inning to take down Clemson in Game 1 of the Super Regional, 10-7.

A seven-run fifth inning helped the Florida Gators to a 10-7 victory over Clemson in Game 1 of the best-of-three Clemson Super Regional Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Florida (33-28 overall) batted 11 times in the fifth and scored seven runs on four hits, an error and three walks. Jac Caglianone provided the big blast with a three-run homer off Tigers starter Tristan Smith that gave the Gators a 5-4 lead.

Florida also got run-scoring hits from Luke Heyman and Michael Robertson in the fifth. Heyman later homered in the top of the ninth off Jacob McGovern for an insurance run.

Right-hander Brandon Neely closed things out in the bottom of the ninth, completing four scoreless innings of one-hit ball to put the Gators one win shy of a return trip to the College World Series in Omaha. Neely threw 59 pitches and struck out seven, allowing one walk.

Things were going Clemson’s way early on as the Tigers (44-15) built a 4-1 lead and got to Florida starter Liam Peterson. After loading the bases with one out in the first inning, Clemson drew first blood when a wild pitch sailed to the backstop and allowed Mathes to score for a 1-0 lead.

Jack Crighton, the seventh batter to come to the plate in the inning, walked on four pitches to force in a run and make it 2-0. Peterson struck out Jacob Jarrell with his 40th pitch to end the first inning.

The Tigers caught a break leading off the second when Jarren Purify hit a ball into no man’s land that dropped in front of right fielder Ashton Wilson for a triple. Two pitches later, another wild pitch from Peterson allowed Purify to score for a 3-0 Clemson lead. Peterson left after throwing 53 pitches in one-plus inning of work.

Right-hander Fisher Jameson took over in relief and rallied to strike out Blake Wright and get Cam Cannarella to fly out to keep it a 3-0 game.

An inning later, Clemson made it 4-1 when Jimmy Obertop led off the bottom of the third with his 21st home run — a mammoth shot that left the stadium. Obertop’s blast tied Wright for the team lead in home runs.

The Gators began chipping away in the fourth when Tyler Shelnut homered to deep left center with one out to cut the lead to 4-2 before Florida’s seven-run explosion in the fifth.

Jameson (5-0) was the winning pitcher with four innings of work. Smith (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in four-plus innings.

Mathes led Clemson at the plate with three hits in a 3-for-5 performance.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m EDT. The game will be televised by ESPN. Freshman Aidan Knaak (5-1, 2.96) will start for Clemson against Florida’s Caglianone (5-2, 4.57).

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

For coverage of the Florida Gators, head over to Gators Wire.

Watch as Clemson coach Erik Bakich meets with reporters ahead of Super Regional

Everything Clemson coach Erik Bakich said ahead of this weekend’s Super Regional against the Florida Gators.

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

That’s the approach Clemson coach Erik Bakich is taking in regard to starting pitchers for this weekend’s NCAA Baseball Super Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

To that end, Bakich announced Friday that the Tigers (43-13 overall) will use the same rotation for the best-of-three series against the Florida Gators (32-28) as they used in last weekend’s Clemson Regional. The Tigers went 3-0 against High Point and Coastal Carolina to advance to the program’s first Super Regional since 2010.

Left-hander Tristan Smith will start Saturday’s opener with freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak starting Sunday’s Game 2. A Game 3 starter, if necessary, could be left-hander Ethan Darden who started Sunday’s regional-clinching victory.

“Our guys are feeling good. They’re fired up. Everyone is confident who has made it to this level. Everyone is coming off a regional championship, so how can you not be confident? We feel especially confident just because our guys have been consistent,” Bakich said.

Bakich met with reporters Friday ahead of the start of this weekend’s Clemson vs. Florida series. Here’s a video of everything the coach said.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

For coverage of the Florida Gators, head over to Gators Wire.