BASEBALL PREVIEW: CLEMSON vs. Duke

CUTrevor 2021-05-19 15:19:42


CLEMSON, S.C. - The Tigers conclude the regular season with a three-game home series against Duke.

SERIES SETUP
• Who - Duke (25-20, 13-17 ACC) vs. Clemson (24-23, 16-17 ACC)
• Best Ranking - DUK - NR; CU - NR
• When - Thursday (6 p.m.), Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.)
• Where - Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium)
• Watch - ACC Network Extra
• Video Announcers - Ron Smith, Pete Yanity
• Listen (Radio) - 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 130-72-2 (1904-2019)
• Record at Clemson - Clemson leads 68-28-1 (1905-2019)

STARTING PITCHERS
• Thursday - RHP Jack Carey (DUK) vs. RHP Mack Anglin (CU)
• Friday - RHP Cooper Stinson (DUK) vs. LHP Keyshawn Askew (CU)
• Saturday - TBA (DUK) vs. TBA (CU)

CLEMSON OVERVIEW
• Clemson, who has a 17-8 home record, won one of three games at No. 10 Florida State last weekend.
• The Tigers are averaging 5.8 runs per game and hitting .257 with a .419 slugging percentage, .363 on-base percentage and 34 steals.
• The pitching staff has a 4.64 ERA, .262 opponents’ batting average and 2.71 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .966.

DUKE OVERVIEW
• Duke, who has an 8-13 road record, is led by ninth-year Head Coach Chris Pollard.
• The Blue Devils beat Davidson 18-2 and have won five games in a row. They are hitting .286 and have a 4.81 ERA and .965 fielding percentage.
• Joey Loperfido is hitting .366 with 10 steals, RJ Schreck is batting .345 with 12 homers and Peter Matt is hitting .303 with 12 homers.

QUICK HITS
• The series opener against Duke marks Clemson’s first game on a Thursday in 2021.
• Clemson has won eight home games in a row.
• Twelve Tigers have started a game on the mound in 2021.

SHARPE CONTRIBUTING BOTH WAYS
• Sophomore utility player Davis Sharpe was Clemson's opening-day starter on the mound, but he was hampered by injury in March.
• He started the series opener in each of the first four weeks of 2021 before being shut down on the mound.
• The preseason first-team All-American has since rounded into form, making his return to the mound against USC Upstate on May 5.
• He is 3-1 with a 5.08 ERA, .255 opponents' batting average and 39 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched over seven appearances (five starts).
• Since returning from injury, he is 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 8.2 innings pitched over three appearances (one start).
• He was able to contribute offensively during his hiatus, starting many games at first base, Clemson's best defensive player at the position.
• He is hitting .208 with three homers, five doubles, 12 RBIs, 13 runs and a .310 on-base percentage in 21 games (17 starts).
• He allowed just one hit, no runs and one walk with nine strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched to earn the win against Cincinnati on Feb. 19.
• He hit a two-run walkoff homer in the first game of a doubleheader against Wake Forest on April 25.
• He pitched 4.1 innings in relief, allowing three hits and no runs with eight strikeouts to earn the win at No. 10 Florida State on May 15.
• In his career, he is hitting .256 with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 40 RBIs, 41 runs, a .369 on-base percentage and four steals in 72 games.
• In his career, he is 11-6 with a 3.71 ERA, .227 opponents' batting average and 143 strikeouts in 131.0 innings pitched over 26 appearances.


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