Tigers move up in D1Baseball poll

Blake Wright and the Tigers moved up despite going 2-2 for the week.

by TigerNet Staff - Mon Apr 29 10:42:39 GMT-04:00 2024

Erik Bakich's Tigers split the four games on the road last week but moved up in the latest D1Baseball poll.

Clemson slotted up one spot there to join its place in the Baseball America Top 25, at No. 4.

"Following a tough loss to Georgia in what was a 15-inning, five-and-a-half hour marathon, Clemson bounced back with a hard-fought series win at Louisville. The Tigers on Friday erased an 11-4 deficit, headlined by a four-run ninth inning in which Cam Cannarella hit the game-winning RBI single. In Sunday’s finale, they notched an emphatic 17-7 victory in which all nine starters registered at least one hit. Clemson this weekend will host red-hot Georgia Tech," said Baseball America.

The full Top 4 is Texas A&M, Arkansas, Tennessee and Clemson for both outlets. For D1, the ACC also has reps in FSU (7), Duke (10), Virginia (11), UNC (12), Wake Forest (13) and NC State (20). South Carolina (15) and Georgia (19) are also ranked there. For BA, FSU (5), UNC (7), Duke (8), Virginia (10), NC State (13), Wake Forest (15) and South Carolina (18) are ranked.

Clemson is holding strong at No. 4 in the RPI rankings with the No. 15 strength of schedule (WarrenNolan.com).

In the ACC stats, Clemson now leads the conference in ERA (4.08) with the fourth-most strikeouts (409) and the fifth-least walks (173). The Tigers rank fourth in home runs (81) but eighth in runs (343) offensively.

Clemson ACC leaders in individual stats: ERA - Aidan Knaak, 2nd (2.59); saves - Austin Gordon, 2nd (7); walks allowed - Ethan Darden, 2nd (9); Knaak, 10th (17); strikeouts - Knaak, 4th (75); Opposing batting average - Knaak, 4th (.200); Walks - Jimmy Obertop, 4th (39); RBIs - Blake Wright, 6th (54); home runs - Wright, 8th 16; On-base percentage - Alden Mathes, 9th (.469); Will Taylor, 10th (.465); runs - Wright, 10th (49).

Clemson takes the academic break from the midweek schedule and returns to action this weekend at home versus Georgia Tech, starting Friday at 6 p.m. (ACCNX).