Top-seeded Clemson will take on fourth-seeded High Point in the opening game of the Clemson Regional on Friday at 7 p.m., with the Tigers hoping to extend their impressive home record. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
The Tigers (41-14), who hold a 27-6 record at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, come into the regional after going 1-1 in the ACC Tournament last week. Clemson's offense has been potent all season, averaging 8.1 runs per game while hitting .298 with a .516 slugging percentage and a .401 on-base percentage. The team has also swiped 57 bases.
On the mound, left-hander Tristan Smith will start for Clemson, bringing a 4.53 team ERA into the contest. The Tigers' pitching staff has held opponents to a .244 batting average and boasts a 2.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Defensively, Clemson is fielding at a .968 clip.
High Point (34-25), under the leadership of third-year head coach Joey Hammond, earned their spot in the regional by winning the Big South Conference Tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. The Panthers have an 11-11 road record and are averaging 7.3 runs per game with a .294 team batting average. High Point’s pitching staff has a 5.85 ERA and the team is fielding .976.
The Panthers will start right-hander Gus Hughes against Clemson. High Point's offense is led by standout performers Peyton Carr and Cael Chatham. Carr is hitting an impressive .422 with 13 homers in just 24 games, while Chatham has belted 17 homers and driven in 55 runs, in addition to recording a team-high seven saves.
Clemson's rich history in the NCAA Tournament includes 46 appearances, ranking fifth all-time. The Tigers are the No. 6 national seed, marking their second consecutive top-eight national seed. Clemson has reached the College World Series 12 times, most recently in 2010.
The winner of the Clemson-High Point matchup will face the victor of the game between No. 2 seed Vanderbilt (38-21) and No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina (34-23). Clemson has had previous encounters with both teams, including a history of facing Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament and a dominant record against Coastal Carolina.
Friday’s game is pivotal for both teams, with Clemson aiming to leverage their home-field advantage and storied NCAA history, while High Point looks to make a statement in their first regional appearance.
Prediction: Clemson's strong offensive production and solid pitching give them an edge. High Point has a capable offense but a higher ERA, which may be exploited by Clemson's potent lineup.
Clemson's consistent ability to score runs and their home-field advantage suggest they will put up a significant number of runs, while High Point's offensive talent indicates they will also manage to score, albeit less frequently.
Clemson 8, High Point 4
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