![Tristan Smith again leads the Tiger rotation going into the weekend series.](https://2cic.b-cdn.net/t/stories/24/baseball/smith-xmen.jpg?class=in)
No. 4 Tigers head to Louisville |
CLEMSON, S.C. - The No. 4 Tigers travel to Louisville for a three-game series this weekend.
SERIES SETUP • Who - Clemson (32-8, 13-5 ACC) vs. Louisville (24-16, 9-9 ACC) • Best Ranking - CU - No. 4 Baseball America, NCBWA, Perfect Game, USA Today; LOU - NR • When - Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.), Sunday (4 p.m.) • Where - Louisville, Ky. (Jim Patterson Stadium) • Watch - ACC Network Extra (Friday, Saturday), ESPN2 (Sunday) • Video Announcers (Friday) - Joey Lindstrom, Jeff Milby • Video Announcers (Saturday) - Jack Kizer, Jeff Milby • Video Announcers (Sunday) - Kevin Fitzgerald, Devon Travis • Listen (Radio) - Clemson Athletic Network (locally on WCCP (105.5 FM)) • Listen (Internet) - ClemsonTigers.com • Live Stats - ClemsonTigers.com • Social Media - ClemsonBaseball SERIES HISTORY • Overall Record - Clemson leads 20-14 (1970-23) • Record at Louisville - Louisville leads 7-2 (2016-22) STARTING PITCHERS • Friday - LHP Tristan Smith (CU: 2-0, 2.63 ERA) vs. LHP Sebastian Gongora (LOU: 4-3, 5.23) • Saturday - LHP Ethan Darden (CU: 5-2, 4.19) vs. LHP Evan Webster (LOU: 3-1, 3.23) • Sunday - TBA (CU) vs. TBA (LOU) CLEMSON OVERVIEW • Clemson, which has a 7-3 road record, lost at No. 17 Georgia 4-3 in 15 innings on Tuesday night. • The Tigers are averaging 7.7 runs per game and hitting .286 with a .496 slugging percentage, .397 on-base percentage and 40 steals. • The pitching staff has a 3.83 ERA, .225 opponents’ batting average and 2.54 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .968. LOUISVILLE OVERVIEW • Louisville, which has a 20-8 home record and is averaging 8.7 runs per game, is led by 18th-year Head Coach Dan McDonnell. • The Cardinals defeated Western Kentucky 16-5 at home on Tuesday. They are hitting .325 and have a 6.16 ERA and .963 fielding percentage. • Zion Rose is hitting .391, Gavin Kilen is batting .368, JT Benson has 25 steals and Tucker Biven has a team-high four saves. QUICK HITS • The home team has won each of the last nine regular-season games in the Clemson vs. Louisville series dating to 2021. • Clemson is in the midst of a stretch of 12 games where nine of them are on the road. • Clemson's bullpen has a 20-4 record, 11 saves, a 3.96 ERA, .205 opponents' batting average and 193 strikeouts in 179.2 innings pitched. MAHLSTEDT EFFECTIVE FROM THE SIDE • Junior righty Lucas Mahlstedt transferred to Clemson from Wofford and has been one of the team's top relievers with his sidearm delivery. • He is 3-0 with one save, a 2.84 ERA, .254 opponents' batting average and 22 strikeouts against six walks in 31.2 innings pitched. • He leads the team in appearances (17), all out of the bullpen. • He is holding opponents to .152 with two outs. • He has not allowed a steal. • He is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 10 strikeouts against two walks in 14.2 innings pitched over nine relief outings in ACC regular-season games.
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