No. 6 Clemson (44-6, 17-4 ACC) visits Blacksburg this weekend for a showdown with No. 21 Virginia Tech (33-16, 12-9) in the final regular season series of the year.
Here’s the schedule and broadcast information:
Friday, April 28: 4 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra
Saturday, April 29: 2 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra
Sunday, April 30: 12 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra
Clemson and Virginia Tech have met four times in each of the last two seasons. The Hokies won five of the six regular season matchups, but the Tigers swept both ACC tournament meetings. Tech’s hoping to get back on the right track against Clemson after dropping seven of the last nine games, including four in a row.
“We’re in a little funk right now, no question,” Tech head coach Pete D’Amour told Tech Sideline after the Marshall game Tuesday night. “It feels like we’re a couple swings away and a couple of pitches away from being 3-1 our last four games.”
The Hokies will have their hands full with Clemson, who is ranked sixth in both major polls. However, the Tigers’ hopes of hosting a Super Regional is hurt by a weak strength of schedule (60), which results in an overall RPI of 15.
The Tigers started this season on a 14-game win streak before falling at Tennessee in late February. They rebounded from that setback by winning their next 23 games before being swept at home by Florida State in early April — 7-0, 4-1 and 3-2.
Clemson’s swept the rest of its ACC opponents with the exception of an inexplicable 7-5 loss to NC State two weeks ago. However, on the way to Blacksburg, it stopped at Liberty and blew a 4-1 lead in the seventh inning, losing 5-4 to the Flames.
The Tigers are a very balanced team — they rank 12th in the country in batting average (.324), 16th in scoring (6.38 runs/game) and second in ERA (1.23). They also play pretty good defense, ranking third in the nation in fielding percentage (.982) and ninth in double plays with .50 per game.
Clemson is led by National Player of the Year candidate Valerie Cagle, who is third in D-I in hitting with a .490 average and tied for second in home runs with 18. She ranks eighth nationally in ERA (1.05). in 24 starts this season, she’s finished 18.
She is complemented by lefthander Millie Thompson (13-1, 1.67 ERA), who has 16 starts. Leading Clemson in saves is sophomore Brooke McCubbin (5-1, 0.84 ERA), who has thrown 58 innings and leads the ACC in ERA.
At the plate, the Tigers are second in the ACC — behind Virginia Tech — in home runs with 63. They have a propensity to run, ranking third in the conference with 95 stolen bases in 115 attempts.
Here is the tale of the tape:
