Tag: NCAA Baseball

NCAA Baseball has several rule changes approved by the oversight panel

College Baseball might look different next season as the new NCAA rules are set to take place

Over the last month, college baseball has seen many changes on and off the field. The most impactful off-field change has been the shift in scholarship allocation among the sports. However, a few days ago, the Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a litany of rules changes for the upcoming season.

The rules overall seem to be reasonable, with the more eye-raising differences geared toward the pitchers. One of the rules that will stick out in the minds of many Texas A&M fans will be the following:

  • If a pitcher is found to be using a foreign substance on the baseball, the pitcher and the head coach both will be ejected from the game. A starting pitcher also will serve a four-game suspension, and a relief pitcher will receive a two-game suspension.

We bring this up because everyone remembers the infamous video that surfaced on social media of the Georgia pitcher who tucked himself away in the corner of the bullpen and started fiddling with his glove. While it was never proved the pitcher was using a foreign substance, there was never an attempt to check.

Below, Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball, highlights some of the other changes coming down soon.

Overall, these changes should improve the on-the-field product. The NCAA has been under a lot of pressure lately with the explosion of NIL and the loose transfer rules, so I’d expect more news throughout the year surrounding all things college sports-related changes.

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Former Arkansas State right-handed pitcher transfers to Notre Dame

Best of luck to the newest member of the Irish.

Starting right-handed pitcher [autotag]Dylan Heine[/autotag] has decided he’s not done with college baseball. In an announcement on social media, Heine, who entered the transfer portal only a week earlier because of a coaching change at Arkansas State, said he’s taking his talents to Notre Dame:

Heine, who pitched one season with the Red Wolves after three seasons at Rider, is coming off a year in which he went 2-2 with a 4.65 ERA in 62 innings over 14 starts. He struck out 30 batters while walking 26.

That showing would have been acceptable with the 2024 Irish, who had a team ERA of 5.89. Their two main starters, [autotag]Jack Radel[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Bedford[/autotag], had respective ERAs of 4.58 and 4.65. They combined to go 7-9.

During his collegiate career, Heine has accumulated an 8-9 record to go with a 4.77 ERA. However, he’s coming off a season in which he led the Sun Belt and tied for sixth nationally with 21 hit batters, nearly tripling the number he had at Rider. [autotag]Shawn Stiffler[/autotag] and his staff will have their work cut out for them in that area.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Where Clemson finished in final 2024 USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll

Here’s where Clemson placed in the final USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, released Tuesday, June 25.

The 2024 college baseball season ended Monday night with the Tennessee Volunteers being crowned national champions after a thrilling 6-5 victory over Texas A&M in Game 3 of the College World Series Finals.

It was the Volunteers’ first baseball national championship in school history and capped a 60-win season that saw Tennessee enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. As such, the Vols finished the year ranked No. 1 in every major poll, including the final USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll.

As for Clemson, whose season ended with a loss to the Florida Gators in the Clemson Super Regional on June 9, the Tigers finished at No. 9 in the coaches poll — one spot below NC State and one ahead of Georgia.

Five ACC teams placed ahead of Clemson in the top 10, with Florida State at No. 4, North Carolina at No. 5, Virginia at No. 7 and NC State at No. 8. Texas A&M finished No. 2 with Kentucky at No. 3.

In Erik Bakich’s second season as Tigers head coach, Clemson went 44-16 overall and were ranked as high as No. 2 in the coaches poll during the regular season. The Tigers won their first on-site Regional since 2010 and entered the NCAA Tournament as a top-eight national seed (No. 6 overall).

Clemson finished No. 18 in the final coaches poll in 2023.

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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.

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Florida Gators end Clemson baseball’s season with 13th inning walk-off

Florida’s Michael Robertson hit a two-run walk-off double in the 13th inning to send the Gators back to the College World Series in Omaha and end Clemson’s season.

There was a team in orange that ended up dogpiling after a walk-off base hit at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend.

It just wasn’t the Clemson Tigers.

The Florida Gators got a bases-loaded double from Michael Robertson in the bottom of the 13th inning off Ethan Darden for a marathon 11-10 victory to win the Clemson Super Regional Sunday and advance to the College World Series in Omaha.

It’s the second straight year the Gators (34-28) will end their season in Omaha. Florida finished as runner-up to national champion LSU a season ago.

The Tigers wrapped up their season at 44-16 overall.

Players and coaches were ejected. A brawl nearly broke out. TV cameras malfunctioned. A catch in centerfield reminded some fans of Willie Mays.

If it could have happened in a baseball game, it probably did in the five-plus hours it took to complete this marathon between the Tigers and Gators.

Florida got home runs from Jac Caglianone, Brody Donay and Ashton Wilson for their ninth consecutive series win when reaching a Super Regional.

The Gators, batting as the home team, wasted no time in taking the early lead. After Aidan Knaak’s first pitch plunked leadoff man Cade Kurland on the arm, Caglianone blasted his 33rd homer of the season over the batter’s eye in centerfield for a quick 2-0 lead.

Clemson got a two-out double from Jack Crighton in the second. Then came the first of many memorable moments from Game 2 of this Super Regional.

After Crighton’s double, Nolan Nawrocki sent a pitch back to the mound. Caglianone tagged out an aggressive Nawrocki, who collided with the Florida pitcher on his way to first. That caused a bit of chirping from Caglianone and Nawrocki as both teams’ benches threatened to empty.

Umpires gathered for several lengthy moments to discuss ejections. After a discussion with between Clemson head coach Erik Bakich and the crew chief, Bakich motioned for Crighton to come out of the dugout and on to the field. Crighton, it was then announced, had been ejected for heading toward the commotion between Nawrocki and Caglianone.

Tryston McCladdie took over at first base for Crighton. Both benches were given warnings. Once play resumed after a delay that totaled 18 minutes, Knaak allowed a one-out walk to Dale Thomas before striking out Donay and Robertson to end the inning.

After Caglianone took the mound in the third inning to a loud chorus of boos, Jacob Hinderleider got an already amped-up crowd further on its feet by splitting the gap in right-center for an RBI double to put Clemson on the board and make it 2-1.

Blake Wright gave the Tigers their first lead at 3-2 lead with a no-doubt two-run homer to dead center. It was Wright’s 22nd home run.

But the Gators’ bats never rested and proved too powerful for Clemson pitchers to bring down. Florida got a pair of run-scoring hits from Colby Shelton to build a 5-3 lead. Knaak’s day ended with the freshman right-hander at 84 pitches. He yielded five runs on four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.

For every Clemson rally, the Gators ultimately answered with one of their own. After Jimmy Obertop hit his 22nd home run to make it a one-run game at 5-4 in the sixth inning, Donay hit a two-run shot in the bottom half to increase Florida’s lead to 7-4.

In the eighth, Wright led off with a single and scored when Cam Cannarella lined a base hit to left-center, cutting the lead to 7-5. McCladdie fought back from an 0-2 count to rip an RBI single into right that made it 7-6.

Florida responded with a two-run shot from Wilson in the bottom of the eighth that made it 9-6.

The fireworks were just getting started.

With the Tigers down to their last two outs in the ninth, Cannarella hit a game-tying three-run homer that evened things up at 9-9. Cannarella’s blast was his 11th of the season, part of a four-RBI day.

The sophomore centerfielder saved his best work for the 10th inning. With two out and the winning run at second, Wilson hit a deep drive to center. Cannarella, playing shallow, raced back and made an over-the-shoulders catch with his back to his teammates.

The play became an instant classic, sending social media abuzz and earning recognition from ESPN’s SportsCenter.

In the 13th, Clemson pulled ahead 10-9 when Alden Mathes hit a solo home run off Luke McNeillie with two out.

Florida got back-to-back singles from Luke Heyman and Tyler Shelnut leading off the bottom of the inning. Thomas grounded out before Donay was intentionally walked by Darden.

Robertson’s double split the gap in left-center as Florida began to celebrate. The Gators and Tigers combined for 25 hits. Robertson (2-for-6) was one of three Florida players to finish with two hits.

Clemson got four hits from Wright, the senior second baseman who finished 4-for-6. Hinderleider added three hits in a 3-7 showing, and Cannarella went 2-6.

Darden (5-5) suffered the loss with McNeillie (4-6) getting the win.

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.

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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).

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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.

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

Clemson vs. Florida Super Regional dates, start times, broadcast info announced

Clemson is scheduled to play Saturday and Sunday at this weekend’s Super Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers will be hosting the Florida Gators.

Dates, start times, and broadcast information have been announced for this weekend’s best-of-three Clemson Super Regional at Doug Kingmore Stadium.

The Tigers (44-14 overall) will take on the Florida Gators (32-28) beginning Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT in Game 1 of the series. Game 2 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Both games will be televised by ESPN, it was announced Tuesday.

A Game 3 would only be played if necessary. Any start time for a potential third game was not announced Tuesday.

Clemson went 3-0 at its regional and defeated Coastal Carolina on back-to-back days over the weekend to advance to the school’s first Super Regional since 2010.

Florida (32-28), last year’s College World Series runner-up, defeated top-seeded Oklahoma State in the Stillwater Regional on Monday. The Gators rallied to win three straight games in the regional and closed it out with a 4-2 victory over the Cowboys on Monday.

Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan was an assistant under former Clemson coach Jack Leggett from 1999-2007. O’Sullivan and Clemson coach Erik Bakich were both assistants on Leggett’s 2002 Clemson team that reached the College World Series in Omaha.

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Duke baseball eliminated from Norman Regional as season ends at the hands of Oklahoma

The Blue Devils couldn’t out-duel the hosting Sooners in a Sunday elimination game, falling 4-3 for their second loss of the postseason.

The 2024 Duke baseball season came to a close on Sunday evening in Norman.

The Blue Devils dropped an elimination game against the hosting Oklahoma Sooners, 4-3. The loss, Duke’s second of the Norman Regional, dropped the team from the bracket.

After a red-hot ACC Tournament run, the Connecticut Huskies threw cold water on Duke’s momentum with a 4-1 win to open postseason play. However, another firm Huskies win over the Sooners and Duke’s 6-2 victory over Oral Roberts kept the Blue Devils alive and offered promise for the elimination battle against the hosting team.

The hopes seemed validated when Zac Morris led the game off with a double. He scored two batters later when freshman AJ Gracia poked a single through to right field (beating a shift in the process). All of a sudden, with just one out on the board, the Blue Devils already led by a run. The offense that racked up 43 runs across four games in Charlotte seemed back.

The excitement petered quickly, however. The Sooners recorded two more outs swiftly with a double play and held Duke scoreless for the next six innings.

The Blue Devils just failed to convert over and over again. Morris reached scoring position again with two outs in the third inning. Chase Krewson grounded into a double play to end the fourth. The Blue Devils put runners on first and second with one out in the fifth.

The Sooners, in the meantime, broke Duke starter Fran Oschell III open in the second inning. After two walks in the first three at-bats of the inning, Rocco Garza-Gongora and Jason Walk tagged back-to-back base hits to bring around three runs. Walk’s triple cleared two men off the bases, turning a tie game into a 3-1 lead.

Gracia tried to play hero for the entire game, and he wore the cape admirably. First, he made a highlight-reel play in right field with a home run robbery.

Then, after another OU run made the lead 4-1, the freshman hammered a two-run homer to bring the Blue Devils within a run. He sent the ball to the deepest part of the park, too, clearing the 410-foot wall in straight centerfield.

Despite Gracia’s best efforts, however, one man can’t beat a team all by himself. With Duke needing a run to stay alive in the top of the ninth, the Sooners retired all three batters to advance to the Regional Final against UConn.

Duke finishes the 2024 season with a 40-20 record and an ACC Tournament title.