Notes (PDF)
The No. 8 Tigers open their 128th season with three games in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas this weekend.
SHOWDOWN SETUP• Who (Friday) – Oklahoma State (0-0) vs. Clemson (0-0)• Who (Saturday) – Clemson (0-0) vs. Arizona (0-0)• Who (Sunday) – Ole Miss (0-0) vs. Clemson (0-0)• Best Ranking – OSU – No. 13 Baseball America; ARZ – No. 12 Perfect Game; MIS – NR; CU – No. 8 Baseball America, Perfect Game• When – Friday (Noon EST), Saturday (Noon EST), Sunday (3:30 p.m. EST)• Where – Arlington, Texas (Globe Life Field)• Watch – FloCollege• Video Announcers – Pat Combs (Saturday), Brant Freeman (Friday, Sunday), Ty Harrington (Friday, Sunday), Ben Wilson (Saturday)• Listen (Radio) – Clemson Athletic Network (locally on WCCP (105.5 FM))• Listen (Internet) – ClemsonTigers.com• Live Stats – ClemsonTigers.com• Social Media – ClemsonBaseball
SERIES HISTORY (OKLAHOMA STATE)• Overall Record – 4-4 (1991-16)• Record at Neutral – Clemson leads 2-1 (1991-96)
SERIES HISTORY (ARIZONA)• Overall Record – Arizona leads 3-2 (1958-90)• Record at Neutral – Arizona leads 3-2 (1958-90)
SERIES HISTORY (OLE MISS)• Overall Record – Ole Miss leads 9-7 (1923-19)• Record at Neutral – Clemson leads 1-0 (1977)
STARTING PITCHERS• Friday – RHP Gabe Davis (OSU) vs. RHP Aidan Knaak (CU)• Saturday – LHP Ethan Darden (CU) vs. RHP Owen Kramkowski (ARZ)• Sunday – RHP Mason Nichols (MIS) vs. LHP Justin LeGuernic (CU)
CLEMSON OVERVIEW• Clemson had a 44-16 overall record and 20-10 ACC mark in 2024, as it advanced to the Clemson Super Regional.• The Tigers are led by third-year Head Coach Erik Bakich.• After this weekend, Clemson plays 22 of its next 25 games at home.
OKLAHOMA STATE OVERVIEW• Oklahoma State is led by 13th-year Head Coach Josh Holliday.• The Cowboys, who hosted the Stillwater Regional, had a 42-19 overall record in 2024.• They hit .282 with a .402 on-base percentage, 48 steals, a 4.08 ERA and .972 fielding percentage in 2024.
ARIZONA OVERVIEW• Arizona is led by fourth-year Head Coach Chip Hale.• The Wildcats, who hosted the Tucson Regional, had a 36-23 overall record in 2024.• They hit .278 with a .362 on-base percentage, 46 steals, a 4.46 ERA and .972 fielding percentage in 2024.
OLE MISS OVERVIEW• Ole Miss is led by 25th-year Head Coach Mike Bianco.• The Rebels had a 27-29 overall record in 2024.• They hit .255 with a .371 on-base percentage, 50 steals, a 5.88 ERA and .966 fielding percentage in 2024.
QUICK HITS• Clemson was picked to finish fourth in the ACC in a vote by the 16 ACC head coaches in the preseason.• Friday’s contest marks Clemson’s first game outside of the Eastern time zone since the 2019 Oxford Regional.• Friday’s contest marks Clemson’s first regular-season game outside of the Eastern time zone since playing at Auburn from March 4-6, 2005.
POLLS• Clemson is ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation by Baseball America and Perfect Game in the preseason.• Clemson was ranked in the top 10 of at least one poll in all 18 weeks in 2024. It has a current streak of 19 in a row.• Clemson has a current 27-week streak of being ranked in the top 25 of at least poll dating to the 2023 season.• The Tigers have been ranked in at least one weekly poll every year since 1987, when Clemson began tracking weekly polls.
TIGERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE STADIUMS• In the first 127 seasons and 4,760 games of program history, Clemson did not play a game in an MLB stadium or dome.• That changes on Friday when Clemson plays No. 13 Oklahoma State at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.• However, the Tiger football program has played many games in MLB stadiums.• Clemson played George Washington at Griffith Stadium, home of the Senators, in 1939 and 1941.• Clemson played Boston College at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, in 1941 and 1942.• Clemson played Boston College at Braves Field, home of the Braves, in 1947, 1948, 1950 and 1952.• Clemson played Duquesne at Forbes Field, home of the Pirates, in 1947.• Clemson played Baylor in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, home of the Braves, in 1979.• Clemson played Miami (Fla.) and West Virginia at the home of the Marlins during the 2009 and 2011 seasons, respectively.
CAPTAINS• Andrew Ciufo, Jacob Jarrell, Aidan Knaak and Jarren Purify were voted team co-captains.• Jarrell was voted a team co-captain for the second time in his career, as he was a team co-captain in 2024.• Seven Tigers were voted to the leadership council (assistant captains).• Those seven Tigers are Joe Allen, Tristan Bissetta, Cam Cannarella, Dominic Listi, Lucas Mahlstedt, Tryston McCladdie and Josh Paino.
PRESEASON HONORS• A total of 14 Tigers earned preseason recognition. See the list below.
#96 TALAN BELL, LHP/OF• No. 15 freshman in the nation by Baseball America• No. 38 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
#10 CAM CANNARELLA, OF• Golden Spikes Award Watch List• First-team All-American by Baseball America• First-team All-American by D1Baseball• First-team All-American by NCBWA• First-team All-American by The Athletic• Second-team All-American by Perfect Game• ACC player-of-the-year by Baseball America• First-team All-ACC by Perfect Game• No. 4 college prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball• No. 1 pure hitter in the nation by Baseball America• No. 1 defensive outfielder in the nation by Baseball America• No. 2 position player in the nation by Baseball America• No. 2 fastest runner in the nation by Baseball America• No. 2 outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 5 junior in the nation by Perfect Game• No. 2 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#17 JOSH CASTELLANI, INF• No. 32 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
#16 LUKE GAFFNEY, INF/C• Second-team All-American by NCBWA• No. 30 transfer in the nation by Baseball America• No. 9 first baseman in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 66 junior in the nation by Perfect Game• No. 99 college prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball• No. 21 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#42 MICHAEL GILLEN, RHP• No. 68 transfer in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 110 starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 208 college prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball• No. 39 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#9 JACOB JARRELL, C• No. 30 catcher in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 67 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#19 AIDAN KNAAK, RHP• Second-team All-American by Perfect Game• First-team All-American by D1Baseball• First-team All-American by NCBWA• First-team All-American by The Athletic• Second-team All-American by Perfect Game• First-team All-ACC by Perfect Game• No. 4 starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 22 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game• No. 14 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#33 JUSTIN LeGUERNIC, LHP• No. 68 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game• No. 40 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#36 DANE MOEHLER, RHP• No. 15 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
#8 JOSH PAINO, INF• No. 32 shortstop in the nation by D1Baseball
#99 COLLIN PRIEST, INF• No. 30 first baseman in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 74 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
#23 JARREN PURIFY, INF• No. 50 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game• No. 43 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#00 DREW TITSWORTH, RHP• NCBWA Stopper-of-the-Year Watch List• No. 12 relief pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball• No. 37 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#18 TP WENTWORTH, OF/LHP• No. 37 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
