Clemson Baseball Preview: NC State Wolfpack

Event- #10 NC State at #2 Clemson

Location-DKS

Time- Friday(6:30), Saturday(4:00), Sunday(1:00)

Video- ACC Network (WatchESPN) w/ Ron Smith & Pete Yanity

Audio- Clemson Tigers Radio Network, Tigercast

Pitchers- Fri. Michael Bienlien vs. Jacob Hennessy, Sat. Brian Brown vs. Brooks Crawford,

Sun. TBA vs. Jake Higginbotham

If you love college baseball, and want an early season matchup with a postseason feel then Doug Kingsmore is the place to be this weekend. The Wolfpack, led by 22nd year head coach Elliot Avent, come in fresh off a two game midweek sweep of UNC Asheville, and a series win over ACC opponent Boston College. NC State, much like Georgia Tech from last week, come in with a highly potent offense, hitting .341 as a team, with Brett Kinneman(.408 10HR 31 RBI) and Evan Edwards(.375 5HR 13 RBI) leading the way.

Clemson is 16-1, their best start since they started 26-1 in 2002. The Tigers are coming off a weekday win over Charleston Southern, and a ACC series sweep of Georgia Tech. The Tigers are only hitting .265 as a team, but they make the most of it by capitalizing on other teams mistakes and walks, scoring a robust 6.9 runs a game.

Expect this to be a tight series throughout as the Tigers take another step up in competition. Clemson will continue to be patient at the plate drawing their walks, and being aggressive on the basepaths, and Clemson's weekend starting rotation lead by surprising sophomore Jacob Hennessey, has show the ability to pound the strikezone and limit walks. NC State has a high scoring offense, but has yet to meet a better pitching staff than Clemson’s , and much like Georgia Tech, their pitching might run out by the end of the weekend. NC State is good, but not top 10 good, the Tigers might drop a game this weekend, but I like their chances to win another series.

Check Back with STS after the series for a full recap.