College baseball series of the week: No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 25 NC State

The Clemson Tigers are one step away from the top of the college baseball rankings as they travel to face the NC State Wolfpack.

The Tigers look to build on their home series win over No. 19 Louisville last weekend and their 3-0 victory over No. 10 Georgia on Tuesday.

The Wolfpack carry a four-game winning streak into this series after taking the series finale over No. 19 Louisville on April 13 and sweeping California on the road last weekend.

Will the Tigers keep climbing the rankings with a series victory? Or will it be the Wolfpack that remains hot this weekend?

Here are some storylines from the weekend series.

Tigers on the path to redemption

Clemson has been close to Omaha in the last two seasons, but they have fallen short each time under head coach Erik Bakich.

In 2023, the Tigers were bounced out of their own regional in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Charlotte.

The following year, Clemson was swept by Florida in the Clemson Super Regional after an 13-inning thriller that saw Florida win 11-10 on a walk-off two-run single by Gators’ center fielder Michael Robertson.

The Tigers have not been back to the College World Series since 2010, and with a 36-7 overall record this year it looks like they’re soon to be on their way there.

Up-and-down season for the Wolfpack

NC State has had their fair share of struggles this year since making the College World Series last year.

The Wolfpack have also had many things go their way in 2025, claiming series victories over Virginia Tech and No. 19 Louisville.

Early stumbles have been overcome by NC State after getting swept in the Jax College Baseball Classic by Ohio State, Alabama and Coastal Carolina on the weekend of February 21-23.

Now having won each of their last three ACC series, the Wolfpack look to be in prime position for making it to the NCAA Regionals.

The history of Clemson-NC State

Clemson leads the head-to-head series with a 124-90-1 record against NC State all-time.

In the most recent meeting, the Wolfpack took two-of-three in a road series win over the Tigers on the weekend of April 12-14, 2024.

Clemson’s last series win over NC State was on the weekend of April 21-23, 2023, when the Tigers swept the Wolfpack on the road.

Tigers players to watch

Second baseman Jarren Purify has been outstanding on the basepaths this season, currently ranking fourth in the ACC in stolen bases with 21.

Left fielder Dominic Listi is currently in his sixth year of playing NCAA baseball, and with that experience comes skill for getting on base, as his .518 on-base percentage ranks second in the ACC.

Right-handed pitcher Aidan Knaak has been a shutdown starter on the mound with a 6-0 record and an ACC-best 74 strikeouts this year.

No closer has been more efficient on the mound than right-handed pitcher Lucas Mahlstedt, whose 15 saves lead not only the ACC and Division I but also ranks the highest among all three NCAA divisions.

Wolfpack players to watch

First baseman Chris McHugh has been far and away the best hitter in the NC State lineup with a .368 batting average that is .070 higher than the next-best on the team.

The speed demon for the Wolfpack this year has easily been second baseman Luke Nixon, whose 13 stolen bases leads the team.

Left-handed pitcher Dominic Fritton has been a stout rotation piece this season, ranking third in the ACC in both overall strikeouts and looking strikeouts with 71 and 23, respectively.

In the bullpen, right-handed pitcher Anderson Nance has been tough to beat on the mound, as his 2.95 earned run average places seventh in the ACC overall and fourth among ACC relief pitchers.

Who’s winning the series?

This is a series that could definitely go back and forth in an all-time weekend classic.

Clemson’s experience, competition level and shutdown pitching have won me over, and I pick the Tigers to take two-of-three from the Wolfpack.

Bryan Portney is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.