News Summary
The No. 5 Florida State baseball team is gearing up to host No. 3 Clemson in a crucial ACC series this weekend. Both teams are coming off tough losses and are looking to improve their positions ahead of the ACC Tournament, with FSU holding the two seed and Clemson at five. Watch out for key pitching matchups and standout players as excitement builds for this highly anticipated clash on the diamond.
Tallahassee, FL – FSU Prepares for Key Series Against Clemson
The No. 5 Florida State baseball team (31-9, 12-6) is preparing to host No. 3 Clemson (36-10, 13-8) in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) series this weekend at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. The first game of the series is scheduled for Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET, with subsequent games on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. All games will be broadcasted on ACCNX and available for radio listening on WFLA 100.7 FM.
Both teams enter this high-stakes matchup following disappointing results over the weekend; Florida State suffered two losses to Louisville while Clemson was swept by NC State. The significance of this series cannot be understated as both teams aim to improve their positions ahead of the ACC Tournament, with FSU currently holding the two seed and Clemson positioned at five.
Florida State hopes to secure its first top-20 road series win of the season as they prepare to protect their impressive home record of 20-4. Historically, the Seminoles lead the series against Clemson, holding an 83-77-1 advantage. However, the recent trend favors the Tigers, who have claimed victory in the last five matchups, including a series sweep last year.
Pitching Matchups
Key pitching duels will feature prominently throughout the series. On Friday, Florida State will send junior left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold (5-1, 2.39 ERA) to the mound, facing Clemson’s sophomore right-hander Aidan Knaak (6-1, 4.80 ERA). Saturday’s matchup will feature redshirt junior Joey Volini (8-1, 2.65 ERA) of FSU against Clemson sophomore Drew Titsworth (4-1, 3.62 ERA). The series finale on Sunday will see FSU sophomore Wes Mendes (5-2, 5.43 ERA) taking on a yet-to-be-named starter from Clemson.
Players to Watch
Several players are expected to shine in this series. For Florida State, standout junior center fielder Cam Cannarella leads the team with a .300 batting average and boasts 48 hits this season. Sophomore second baseman Jarren Purify, hitting .311, also stands out with a team-leading 22 stolen bases. Another key player is junior shortstop Alex Lodise, who is hitting an impressive .440 with 14 home runs and 15 doubles to his credit.
Clemson will be relying on Aidan Knaak, who had a stellar freshman year but is looking to bounce back following a challenging outing in his last game.
Significance of the Series
This ACC series is being billed as a College World Series-type clash, with both teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. As they compete for better positioning leading into the postseason, players from both teams are eager to make a significant impact on the outcome of the series. As the weekend approaches, excitement is building for what promises to be an intense and competitive matchup on the diamond.
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Additional Resources
- NCAA: Florida State vs Clemson Baseball Preview
- Greenville Online: Clemson Baseball vs Florida State Info
- FSU Wire: FSU Baseball vs Clemson Streaming Info
- Tomahawk Nation: Florida State Baseball Roster and Schedule
- Shakin’ the Southland: Clemson Tigers Baseball Update
