Baseball Preview: Kennesaw State at Clemson

Kennesaw State Owls (23-17, 9-3 ASUN) at Clemson Tigers (29-11, 14-7 ACC)

Time: 6:30 PM

Video: ACC Network Extra

Audio: 105.5, ESPN Radio Upstate, TigerCast

Pitchers (KSU vs CU): Nathan Dupree (1-0) vs Sam Weatherly (0-0)

After sweeping Wake Forest on the road this weekend, the Clemson Tigers return home to Doug Kingsmore Stadium to take on the Kennesaw State Owls out of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Like the Tigers, the Owls were also swept by Georgia this season in a pair of midweek games. Kennesaw State has faced a few power conference opponents this year, including an early season trip to Norman, Oklahoma where they dropped two of three against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Despite fielding a baseball progran since the 1980’s, Kennesaw State played NAIA and then Division Two ball until 2006, when they moved up to Division One. The Owls have an impressive history for a program with such humble beginnings, including having thirty-two players drafted in the MLB draft and reaching the 2014 Louisville Super Regional by winning the Tallahassee Regional. This is the first time Clemson has faced Kennesaw State.

Clemson comes in with an 8-3 record in midweek games on the season, with the losses being the two to UGA and then a loss at Coastal Carolina. The Tigers have been more consistent in midweek games under Monte Lee, and look to continue that trend. Freshman Sam Weatherly is taking the mound for Clemson. Weatherly, who has also played in the outfield and as a DH for the Tigers, has three starts on the year, but has an 0-0 record. Weatherly comes in with a 4.91 ERA in eleven innings pitched. Redshirt Sophomore Nathan Dupree gets the nod for Kennesaw State. Dupree has a 1-0 record in two starts, and a 7.00 ERA in eighteen innings pitched. Junior outfielder Jake Franklin leads the Owls in homeruns on the year, which is perfect given that Franklin hails from th town of Homer, Georgia. RS Senior outfielder LaDonis Bryant is coming of a big weekend series against Lipscomb, where he totaled seven hits, and brough in the game winning run in the first game of their double header last Saturday.