The Tigers are ready to roar as Clemson baseball eyes its first trip to Omaha and the College World Series since 2010.
The Clemson super-regional begins this afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium against the Florida Gators, and head coach Erik Bakich has had his starting rotation lined up since the Tigers won their regional with a perfect 3-0 record.
Game 1 on Saturday afternoon will see Tristan Smith take the bump for Clemson. The left hander has been good this season for the Tigers, sporting a 2-0 record and 3.88 ERA. He will be countered by Liam Peterson of the Gators, who is 3-4 with a high ERA of 5.61.
The Tigers will turn to Aidan Knaak in game two. The freshman phenom has been sensational for Clemson this season, bringing a 5-1 record and 2.96 ERA into the super-regionals. He will be opposed by Jac Caglianone for Florida. Caglianone is 5-2 with a 4.57 ERA.
Should the series advance to a third and deciding game, the starting pitchers for both teams are to be determined.
There is history between Clemson and Florida on the diamond, though none in recent memory. The Tigers and Gators have not played one another since 1983, and Florida leads the all-time series between the two 18-12. Of the 30 games between the two historically, all but five were played in Gainesville.
The Tigers and Gators have played in the NCAA Tournament before, with the two meeting with a trip to Omaha on the line in 1958. Clemson defeated Florida 15-14 and 3-1 to advance to the College World Series for the first time. That was 66 years ago.
Clemson, the number six national seed, carries a 44-14 record into the super-regional. Florida is 32-28. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 2 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium while Sunday’s game will get underway at 2:30.
