Tigers Open Season At Shriners Children’s College Showdown
CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 8 Tigers open their 128th season with three games in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas this weekend.
SHOWDOWN SETUP
• Who (Friday) – Oklahoma State (0-0) vs. Clemson (0-0)
• Who (Saturday) – Clemson (0-0) vs. Arizona (0-0)
• Who (Sunday) – Ole Miss (0-0) vs. Clemson (0-0)
• Best Ranking – OSU – No. 13 Baseball America; ARZ – No. 12 Perfect Game; MIS – NR; CU – No. 8 Baseball America, Perfect Game
• When – Friday (Noon EST), Saturday (Noon EST), Sunday (3:30 p.m. EST)
• Where – Arlington, Texas (Globe Life Field)
• Watch – FloCollege
• Video Announcers – Pat Combs (Saturday), Brant Freeman (Friday, Sunday), Ty Harrington (Friday, Sunday), Ben Wilson (Saturday)
• Listen (Radio) – Clemson Athletic Network (locally on WCCP (105.5 FM))
• Listen (Internet) –ClemsonTigers.com
• Live Stats –ClemsonTigers.com
• Social Media – ClemsonBaseball
SERIES HISTORY (OKLAHOMA STATE)
• Overall Record – 4-4 (1991-16)
• Record at Neutral – Clemson leads 2-1 (1991-96)
SERIES HISTORY (ARIZONA)
• Overall Record – Arizona leads 3-2 (1958-90)
• Record at Neutral – Arizona leads 3-2 (1958-90)
SERIES HISTORY (OLE MISS)
• Overall Record – Ole Miss leads 9-7 (1923-19)
• Record at Neutral – Clemson leads 1-0 (1977)
STARTING PITCHERS
• Friday – RHP Gabe Davis (OSU) vs. RHP Aidan Knaak (CU)
• Saturday – LHP Ethan Darden (CU) vs. RHP Owen Kramkowski (ARZ)
• Sunday – RHP Mason Nichols (MIS) vs. LHP Justin LeGuernic (CU)
CLEMSON OVERVIEW
• Clemson had a 44-16 overall record and 20-10 ACC mark in 2024, as it advanced to the Clemson Super Regional.
• The Tigers are led by third-year Head Coach Erik Bakich.
• After this weekend, Clemson plays 22 of its next 25 games at home.
OKLAHOMA STATE OVERVIEW
• Oklahoma State is led by 13th-year Head Coach Josh Holliday.
• The Cowboys, who hosted the Stillwater Regional, had a 42-19 overall record in 2024.
• They hit .282 with a .402 on-base percentage, 48 steals, a 4.08 ERA and .972 fielding percentage in 2024.
ARIZONA OVERVIEW
• Arizona is led by fourth-year Head Coach Chip Hale.
• The Wildcats, who hosted the Tucson Regional, had a 36-23 overall record in 2024.
• They hit .278 with a .362 on-base percentage, 46 steals, a 4.46 ERA and .972 fielding percentage in 2024.
OLE MISS OVERVIEW
• Ole Miss is led by 25th-year Head Coach Mike Bianco.
• The Rebels had a 27-29 overall record in 2024.
• They hit .255 with a .371 on-base percentage, 50 steals, a 5.88 ERA and .966 fielding percentage in 2024.
QUICK HITS
• Clemson was picked to finish fourth in the ACC in a vote by the 16 ACC head coaches in the preseason.
• Friday’s contest marks Clemson’s first game outside of the Eastern time zone since the 2019 Oxford Regional.
• Friday’s contest marks Clemson’s first regular-season game outside of the Eastern time zone since playing at Auburn from March 4-6, 2005.
POLLS
• Clemson is ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation by Baseball America and Perfect Game in the preseason.
• Clemson was ranked in the top 10 of at least one poll in all 18 weeks in 2024. It has a current streak of 19 in a row.
• Clemson has a current 27-week streak of being ranked in the top 25 of at least poll dating to the 2023 season.
• The Tigers have been ranked in at least one weekly poll every year since 1987, when Clemson began tracking weekly polls.
TIGERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE STADIUMS
• In the first 127 seasons and 4,760 games of program history, Clemson did not play a game in an MLB stadium or dome.
• That changes on Friday when Clemson plays No. 13 Oklahoma State at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.
• However, the Tiger football program has played many games in MLB stadiums.
• Clemson played George Washington at Griffith Stadium, home of the Senators, in 1939 and 1941.
• Clemson played Boston College at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, in 1941 and 1942.
• Clemson played Boston College at Braves Field, home of the Braves, in 1947, 1948, 1950 and 1952.
• Clemson played Duquesne at Forbes Field, home of the Pirates, in 1947.
• Clemson played Baylor in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, home of the Braves, in 1979.
• Clemson played Miami (Fla.) and West Virginia at the home of the Marlins during the 2009 and 2011 seasons, respectively.
CAPTAINS
• Andrew Ciufo, Jacob Jarrell, Aidan Knaak and Jarren Purify were voted team co-captains.
• Jarrell was voted a team co-captain for the second time in his career, as he was a team co-captain in 2024.
• Seven Tigers were voted to the leadership council (assistant captains).
• Those seven Tigers are Joe Allen, Tristan Bissetta, Cam Cannarella, Dominic Listi, Lucas Mahlstedt, Tryston McCladdie and Josh Paino.
PRESEASON HONORS
• A total of 14 Tigers earned preseason recognition. See the list below.
#96 TALAN BELL, LHP/OF
• No. 15 freshman in the nation by Baseball America
• No. 38 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
#10 CAM CANNARELLA, OF
• Golden Spikes Award Watch List
• First-team All-American by Baseball America
• First-team All-American by D1Baseball
• First-team All-American by NCBWA
• First-team All-American by The Athletic
• Second-team All-American by Perfect Game
• ACC player-of-the-year by Baseball America
• First-team All-ACC by Perfect Game
• No. 4 college prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
• No. 1 pure hitter in the nation by Baseball America
• No. 1 defensive outfielder in the nation by Baseball America
• No. 2 position player in the nation by Baseball America
• No. 2 fastest runner in the nation by Baseball America
• No. 2 outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 5 junior in the nation by Perfect Game
• No. 2 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#17 JOSH CASTELLANI, INF
• No. 32 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
#16 LUKE GAFFNEY, INF/C
• Second-team All-American by NCBWA
• No. 30 transfer in the nation by Baseball America
• No. 9 first baseman in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 66 junior in the nation by Perfect Game
• No. 99 college prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
• No. 21 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#42 MICHAEL GILLEN, RHP
• No. 68 transfer in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 110 starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 208 college prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
• No. 39 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#9 JACOB JARRELL, C
• No. 30 catcher in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 67 ACC prospect for the 2025 draft by D1Baseball
#19 AIDAN KNAAK, RHP
• Second-team All-American by Perfect Game
• First-team All-American by D1Baseball
• First-team All-American by NCBWA
• First-team All-American by The Athletic
• Second-team All-American by Perfect Game
• First-team All-ACC by Perfect Game
• No. 4 starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 22 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
• No. 14 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#33 JUSTIN LeGUERNIC, LHP
• No. 68 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
• No. 40 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#36 DANE MOEHLER, RHP
• No. 15 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
#8 JOSH PAINO, INF
• No. 32 shortstop in the nation by D1Baseball
#99 COLLIN PRIEST, INF
• No. 30 first baseman in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 74 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
#23 JARREN PURIFY, INF
• No. 50 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
• No. 43 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#00 DREW TITSWORTH, RHP
• NCBWA Stopper-of-the-Year Watch List
• No. 12 relief pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
• No. 37 ACC prospect for the 2026 draft by D1Baseball
#18 TP WENTWORTH, OF/LHP
• No. 37 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
