Tag: NCAA Baseball

New projected NCAA Baseball Tourney field has UNC a Top-7 National seed

Who will UNC face in this week’s NCAA Tournament Regional projections?

Sitting at 30-10 with just a few weeks remaining in college baseball season, the UNC baseball team is in prime position to host an NCAA Tournament Regional.

That is, if North Carolina finds a way to continuing producing at the plate, while getting better outings from its pitchers.

The Diamond Heels sport one of the nation’s top offenses, ranking 30th overall by hitting .309 as a team. Gavin Gallagher is hitting a team-high .372, but he’s just one of seven batters mashing at least .300.

As a result of its strong play already this year, UNC has a 2-game lead over archrival Duke in the ACC Coastal Division.

In D1Baseball’s Week 11 Projected Field of 64, the Diamond Heels are the seventh National Seed and will host Alabama, Northeastern and Niagara.

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The Crimson Tide (26-15, 7-11) are fourth in the SEC West. Nine SEC teams will make the NCAA Tournament in the above projected field, so Alabama could possibly face some familiar foes.

Northeastern (28-11, 10-5), one of the CAA’s (Coastal Athletic Association) better teams, currently sits third behind UNC-Wilmington and conference leader College of Charleston. Niagara (24-11, 11-1) is tied atop the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with Rider.

If this is the regional North Carolina ends up with, I like its chances to play in a Super Regional tremendously.

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Clemson “locked up” as top five national seed in new Field of 64 projection

Clemson Baseball: On3 Sports says the Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, are all but locked in as a top five national seed.

A 3-1 week that included a non-conference victory over Charlotte and a series win over Pitt in ACC play saw the Clemson Tigers climb two spots to No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll for Week 12.

The Tigers (32-7 overall, 13-5 ACC) also stayed at No. 4 in the NCAA’s RPI rankings. Similar to NET rankings in men’s and women’s basketball, RPI measures not just a team’s won/loss record but its strength of schedule and other factors.

Only Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Kentucky have higher RPI rankings than Clemson. The Aggies and Razorbacks are ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in every major poll.

In On3’s latest Field of 64 projections for the NCAA Division I men’s baseball tournament, Clemson is ranked the third-highest national seed among projected host sites.

Finishing with a top eight national seed would ensure the Tigers of hosting a Super Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, provided the team wins its four-team, double-elimination host site Regional. According to On3’s latest projections, Clemson is a cinch for a top five national seed.

Per On3’s Jonathan Wagner:

“Clemson is in a great position to host as a top three overall seed right now. The Tigers are 32-7 overall, 13-5 in the ACC and sit at No. 4 in RPI. At Wake Forest is their toughest weekend remaining, with Georgia Tech, Boston College and Louisville to round out the year. Clemson is essentially locked up as a top five seed as things currently stand, and they are joined by Mississippi State, Lamar and North Dakota State.”

Clemson resumes conference play Friday when the Tigers travel to Louisville.

WATCH: UNC outfielder Anthony Donofrio makes several stunning catches against Wolfpack

Anthony Donfrio is a highlight reel in right field for the UNC baseball team.

Graduate student Anthony Donofrio might just very well be the missing piece UNC’s baseball team needed in the outfield.

Donofrio, a Quinnipiac transfer who’s spending his last year of eligibility in Chapel Hill, starts in the outfield alongside fellow stars Vance Honeycutt and Casey Cook. Donofrio is a key member of the Diamond Heels’ powerful offense, being one of eight players to sport a .300 batting average (he’s hitting .309), while also adding four hone runs and 33 RBIs.

Donofrio has also proven his ability to be a lockdown defender like his outfield mates, recording a .968 fielding percentage.

Just look at some of Donofrio’s plays against NC State from over the weekend, including several highlight-reel catches and big throws.

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Like the above Instagram caption says, the ACC unfortunately does not give out Defensive POTW awards in baseball.

Donofrio went a solid 3-for-5 at the plate, later scoring two runs in last Thursday’s 9-8 series-opening loss. He failed to notch a hit on Friday or Saturday, but managed three walks and two runs.

UNC could very well host a regional in the NCAA Tournament, which starts the last weekend of May. North Carolina will need continued production from Donofrio, plus improved pitching, if it wants to make a deep run.

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Diamond Heels projected to host NCAA Tournament Regional

Is a strong start enough for the UNC baseball team to host an NCAA Tournament Regional?

Despite watching its record home winning streak stopped Tuesday night against a tough Coastal Carolina squad, the UNC baseball team still ranks amongst the country’s best.

North Carolina (29-8, 14-4), one of the ACC’s seven ranked teams (11th), is leading the ACC Coastal Division. It plays NC State on the road this weekend, in a series which could truly determine how legitimate the Tar Heels are.

UNC’s proven its ability to beat good teams earlier this season, highlighted by a road sweep of Preseason Number One Wake Forest, plus a singular win against East Carolina.

Regardless of how North Carolina ends its season, it’s still projected to host a regional in D1Baseball’s Week 10 Projected Field of 64.

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Looking at the Chapel Hill Regional right now, the Diamond Heels would face arguably the NCAA Tournament’s toughest group.

Florida has made 13 College World Series appearances, including a 2017 title. Oregon, one of the Pac-12’s better teams of late, is coming off its first-ever conference tournament championship and second Super Regional appearance. Bryant would be looking for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016.

There is no question about UNC’s bats being able to produce, but it’s the starting pitching that could prevent a deep run. The bullpen has largely carried North Carolina on the mound, but a strong relief performances means nothing if starters continue to play inconsistently.

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WATCH: Erik Bakich and players discuss Clemson’s 7-0 shutout win over NC State

Clemson Baseball: Watch Tigers head coach Erik Bakich and freshmen Aidan Knaak and Jarren Purify talk about the team’s 7-0 victory over NC State on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson is coming off its worst week of the 2024 season.

The Tigers (29-6 overall) dropped three of their four contests this past week, including two of three to ACC rival NC State over the weekend. Even so, coach Erik Bakich’s team managed to salvage the final game of its series against the Wolfpack with a 7-0 shutout victory on Sunday.

Clemson was backed by eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball from freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak, who has slowly developed into the team’s most reliable starter. Knaak struck out 10 batters and threw 97 pitches against NC State to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Through nine starts, Knaak now has a 2.87 ERA with a strikeout to walk ratio that’s just over 4-to-1 (67 strikeouts to 15 walks in 53 1/3 innings). He was named ACC Pitcher of the Week by the conference on Monday, marking the second consecutive week Knaak has earned that honor.

Jarren Purify was also responsible for helping the Tigers end their three-game losing streak in Sunday’s win. The freshman from Detroit went 2-for-4 and had two run-scoring hits, including an RBI double as part of a five-run seventh inning that broke a scoreless tie and put Clemson ahead for good. Purify raised his average to .266 through 29 games.

Here’s Bakich, Knaak and Purify talking to reporters after Sunday’s victory.

Clemson freshman Aidan Knaak named ACC Pitcher of the Week for second straight week

Clemson Baseball: Freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak took home ACC Pitcher of the Week honors, the league announced Monday. It’s the second week in a row that Knaak has earned the honor.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshman righthander Aidan Knaak (Fort Myers, Fla.) was named ACC Pitcher-of-the-Week, announced Monday by the league office. He joined Wake Forest’s Nick Kurtz, who was named ACC Player-of-the-Week, in receiving conference accolades. ACC baseball weekly honors are determined by a vote of a select media panel and are announced on Mondays throughout the regular season.

It marked the second week in a row Knaak earned ACC weekly honors. He became the first Tiger pitcher to earn ACC weekly honors twice in one year since 2016 (Pat Krall) and the first Tiger pitcher to earn ACC weekly honors in back-to-back weeks since 2005 (Josh Cribb).

Knaak pitched another masterpiece in Clemson’s 7-0 win over NC State on Sunday. In 8.0 innings pitched, he allowed just two hits (both infield singles), no runs and one walk with 10 strikeouts to earn the win. Knaak, who threw 97 pitches (71 strikes), faced just two batters over the minimum.

It was the longest outing of his career and tied his career high for strikeouts. He retired the first 14 batters of the game before surrendering an infield single in the fifth inning. He also did not allow a baserunner past second base and allowed only one past first base.

On the season, he is 3-0 with a 2.87 ERA, .201 opponents’ batting average and 67 strikeouts against 15 walks in 53.1 innings pitched over nine starts.

–via Clemson Athletic Communications

How far Clemson fell in new USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll

NCAA Baseball: The Clemson Tigers fell to No. 6 in the new USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, released Monday, April 15.

A rough week by Clemson that featured the team’s first back-to-back losses of the season — and its first losing streak — dropped the Tigers several spots in the new USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, released Monday, April 15.

Clemson (29-6 overall) tumbled four spots to No. 6 in the coaches poll, compiled by 31 head coaches at Division I schools. The Tigers went just 1-3 last week after a midweek loss to USC Upstate and dropping two of three in a series against NC State at home.

Coach Erik Bakich’s club also fell to No. 6 in D1Baseball’s new Top 25 rankings and to No. 4 in the new Baseball America Top 25.

Texas A&M (32-4) climbed two spots to No. 1 after a 4-0 week that included a series sweep of No. 12 Vanderbilt. The Commodores had been ranked No. 6 in last week’s coaches poll.

Arkansas (30-5) fell to No. 2 after suffering its first series loss of the season. The Razorbacks, who had been No. 1 for five straight weeks, fell Saturday and Sunday to No. 14 Alabama, which rose three spots in Monday’s poll.

Oregon State (29-5) moved up one spot in to No. 4. Kentucky (30-5) rounded out the top five after its three-game sweep of Auburn over the weekend.

Right behind Clemson in the new poll are four ACC schools. Florida State (30-5) rose to No. 7, with Virginia (28-8) checking in at No. 8 and Duke (26-10) at No. 9. North Carolina (29-7) moved up one spot to No. 11. East Carolina (27-8) rounded out the Top 10.

Two other ACC schools — No. 13 Wake Forest and No. 22 Virginia Tech — placed in Monday’s Top 25 to give the conference seven teams ranked in the new poll.

The SEC had the most schools ranked per conference with eight.

Clemson returns to the diamond Tuesday when the Tigers host Charlotte in non-conference play. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Clemson freshman named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week

Clemson Baseball: Clemson Tigers freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak was named Co-Pitcher of the Week by the ACC on Monday.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshman righthander Aidan Knaak (Fort Myers, Fla.) was named ACC Co-Pitcher-of-the-Week, announced Monday by the league office. He joined Louisville’s Sebastian Gongora, who was named ACC Co-Pitcher-of-the-Week, and Wake Forest’s Nick Kurtz, who was named ACC Player-of-the-Week, in receiving conference accolades. ACC baseball weekly honors are determined by a vote of a select media panel and are announced on Mondays throughout the regular season.Knaak became the first Tiger freshman to earn ACC Pitcher-of-the-Week honors since 2016 (Alex Eubanks) and the first Tiger first-year freshman since 2013 (Matthew Crownover).

Knaak took a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Notre Dame on Sunday. He retired the side in order in five of his first six innings and did not allow a hit until he gave up an infield single in the seventh inning.

In 7.0 innings pitched, he allowed just three hits, one earned run and no walks with nine strikeouts in Clemson’s victory. He tied his career high for innings pitched, throwing just 81 pitches (64 strikes).

On the season, he is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA, .218 opponents’ batting average and 57 strikeouts against 14 walks in 45.1 innings pitched over eight starts.

–via Clemson Athletic Communications

Where Clemson ranks in new D1Baseball, Baseball America rankings

Clemson Baseball: Here’s where the Clemson Tigers are in the new Top 25 rankings from both D1Baseball and Baseball America for April 8.

Clemson stayed at No. 2 in the new Top 25 rankings from both D1Baseball and Baseball America, released Monday, April 8.

The Tigers enter the week at 28-3 overall following a three-game sweep of Notre Dame in ACC play to complete a 4-0 week.

The top five in D1Baseball’s rankings remained the same, with Arkansas (27-3) holding at No. 1 following its three-game series sweep of Ole Miss over the weekend. Texas A&M stayed at No. 3, with Tennessee at No. 4 and Oregon State at No. 5.

Clemson also stayed at No. 2 in Baseball America’s new Top 25 rankings. In BA’s rankings, the top four teams all remained the same as D1Baseball’s top four teams. Vanderbilt (25-7) took the No. 5 spot in Baseball America’s rankings.

Monday marked the fifth consecutive week that Arkansas has been ranked No. 1 by both publications.

Clemson will host SC Upstate Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. After that, coach Erik Bakich’s team will host its first weekend series in two weeks when the Tigers take on NC State beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. The games can all be seen on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Series preview and where to watch/stream/listen: No. 2 Clemson vs. Notre Dame

Clemson Baseball: Here’s a look at where Clemson Tigers fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s NCAA baseball series against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

No. 2 Clemson heads to South Bend for its next showdown in conference play when the Tigers take on Notre Dame.

The Tigers (25-3 overall, 7-2 ACC), ranked second in every major poll this week, defeated USC Upstate, 11-1, in seven innings on Tuesday and have won every conference series they’ve played thus far. Coach Erik Bakich’s team rallied after a series-opening walk-off loss at Miami last weekend to take two of three games against the Hurricanes.

Matthew Marchal will start Friday’s opener at Notre Dame with Ethan Darden scheduled for Saturday. Aidan Knaak is set to pitch Sunday. Knaak had his best performance as a Tiger in last Saturday’s start at Miami. The freshman right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 batters while allowing just two hits.

Clemson’s pitching staff has compiled a 3.49 ERA and is limiting opponents to a .231 average this season.

With the bats, the Tigers are hitting .294 as a unit with an OPS of .924. They’re averaging 8.4 runs per game. Blake Wright leads the offense in home runs (13) and RBIs (42) and is hitting .331.

Notre Dame (14-12) will start right-handers Matt Bedford (Friday), Jack Radel (Saturday), and Rory Fox (Sunday) in this weekend’s series. The Fighting Irish are just 2-10 in conference play and were swept last weekend at NC State.

Saturday’s game will mark a rare national television appearance for the Tigers; that game will be broadcast by ESPN2.

Series History

Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with Notre Dame, 15-14. The two programs first met in 1994. The Tigers took two of three from the Irish in last year’s three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s s a look at where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series at Frank Eck Stadium.

Start Times (ET)

Friday, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m.

Broadcast Info

TV: ESPN2 (Saturday only)

Live Video Stream: ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com

Broadcast Teams

ACC Network Extra (Friday and Sunday): Jacob Irons, Andrew McGuiness, Cesar Sanchez

ESPN2 (Saturday): Mike Ferrin, Gaby Hernandez