Tigers Continue Homestand With Weekend Series Against UCF
CLEMSON, S.C. - The Tigers continue their homestand with a three-game series against UCF this weekend.
SERIES SETUP
• Who - UCF (3-1) vs. Clemson (4-0)
• Best Ranking - UCF - NR; CU - NR
• When - Friday (4 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.), Sunday (1 p.m.)
• Where - Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium)
• Watch - ACC Network Extra
• Video Announcers - Marty Clary (Saturday, Sunday), Fred Cunningham (Saturday), Jeff Morris (Friday), Pete Yanity (Friday, Sunday)
• Listen (Radio) - Clemson Athletic Network (locally on WCCP (105.5 FM))
• Listen (Internet) - ClemsonTigers.com
• Live Stats - ClemsonTigers.com
• Social Media - ClemsonBaseball
• Tickets - ClemsonTigers.com, 1-800-CLEMSON
SERIES HISTORY
• Overall Record - Clemson leads 5-3 (1998-08)
• Record at Clemson - UCF leads 2-1 (2004)
STARTING PITCHERS
• Friday - RHP Ruddy Gomez (UCF) vs. LHP Ryan Ammons (CU)
• Saturday - RHP Cameron Leiter (UCF) vs. RHP Austin Gordon (CU)
• Sunday - RHP Dom Stagliano (UCF) vs. RHP Jay Dill (CU)
CLEMSON OVERVIEW
• Clemson, who has a 4-0 home record, defeated Charlotte 9-5 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
• The Tigers are averaging 10.5 runs per game and hitting .345 with a .576 slugging percentage, .453 on-base percentage and 21 steals.
• The pitching staff has a 2.50 ERA, .256 opponents’ batting average and 2.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .974.
UCF OVERVIEW
• UCF, who has yet to play a road game and is averaging 9.5 runs per game, is led by seventh-year Head Coach Greg Lovelady.
• The Knights fell at home 13-3 to Florida Atlantic on Tuesday. They are hitting .312 and have a 4.76 ERA and .959 fielding percentage.
• Ben McCabe is hitting .438 with four homers and eight RBIs, while Brady Shannon is batting .418 with two home runs and five RBIs.
QUICK HITS
• Clemson has won 13 consecutive home games dating to 2022, its longest such streak since starting the 2018 season with 14 straight home wins.
• Tiger pitchers have combined to allow only one extra-base hit this season.
• Clemson's four starting pitchers entered this year with a combined two career starts. They are 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
BLACKWELL GLAD HE RETURNED
• Senior infielder Benjamin Blackwell decided late in the process last summer to return for his fifth collegiate season in 2023.
• The Tigers are glad he did, and he is putting up big numbers along the way, including a team-high eight stolen bases.
• He is hitting .538 with a double, triple, six RBIs, three runs, four walks and a .647 on-base percentage in four games in 2023.
• He has a solid .938 fielding percentage as Clemson's starting shortstop, committing only one error in 16 chances.
• In his two-year Tiger career, he is hitting .339 with 11 doubles, two triples, three homers, 39 RBIs, 55 runs and 12 steals in 62 games.