College Baseball series of the week: No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 5 Florida State

The No 3 Clemson Tigers look to bounce back after getting swept by the No. 13 NC State Wolfpack on the road last week.

The No. 5 Florida State Seminoles are also fresh off of an away series loss, as the No. 17 Louisville Cardinals took two-of-three from them last weekend.

Will the Tigers travel well with a series victory in Tallahassee? Or will the Seminoles hold things down at Mike Martin Field?

Here are some storylines from the weekend series.

Tigers under pressure

No series will be more filled with adversity for Clemson in the regular season than the one happening this weekend in the Sunshine State.

The Tigers have had quite a few interesting contests against ranked opponents, but in the grand scheme of things they have not played many impact games.

Clemson is 4-5 against currently ranked opponents this year, holding a 2-4 record against ACC teams in the Top 25.

It’s series like these for the Tigers that could make or break their chances of making it to the College World Series in June, as the environment and skill level in Tallahassee make for great preparation.

First true tough test at home for the Seminoles

Florida State has been near-impeccable at home this season with a 20-4 record at Mike Martin Field, but against whom?

The hardest challenge for the Seminoles in Tallahassee all year was against the then-No. 7 Florida Gators in a 7 to 2 loss for the garnet and gold.

In conference play, Florida State has hosted Boston College, whom they swept, as well as Wake Forest when they dropped the last two games in mercy-rule losses.

With a chance at a Top 5 series victory and a hope that weather holds out, Seminoles fans need to be there and be loud at the ballpark this weekend.

The history of Clemson-Florida State

Florida State leads the head-to-head series with a 83-77 record against Clemson all-time.

In the most recent meeting, the Tigers swept the Seminoles at home on the weekend of March 23-24, 2024.

Florida State’s last series win over Clemson was on the weekend of May 14-16, 2021, when the Seminoles took two-of-three from the Tigers at home.

Tigers players to watch

Designated hitter Collin Priest has made a huge impact for the Tigers since transferring from Michigan, tying for the team high in runs batted in with 40.

Center fielder Cam Cannarella is a highlight machine beyond the infield, leading Tiger outfielders in putouts with 92 and having only committed one error in 44 games this season.

Right-handed pitcher Aidan Knaak has continued to be a force in the rotation with a 6-1 record this year with one more season to go before he’s likely to be drafted.

In the bullpen, right-handed pitcher Reed Garris cannot be stopped as he has let up only two earned runs in 23 and two-thirds innings.

Seminoles players to watch

There is not a better hitting shortstop in the ACC than Alex Lodise, whose .440 batting average and .804 slugging percentage leads the conference.

Florida State has doubled down on having heavy hitters this season, as center fielder Max Williams is currently tied for second in the ACC in home runs with 15.

Highly-touted MLB Draft prospect and left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold has the second-lowest earned run average among ACC starting pitchers this season with 2.39.

Right behind him in the rotation is left-handed pitcher Joey Volini, whose eight wins ranks the second-highest among starters in the ACC.

Who’s winning the series?

This series is one that will definitely have the feel of a Super Regional series.

It’s hard to pick against the Seminoles, with home-field advantage and a deadly one-two punch in the rotation, and so I have No. 5 Florida State taking two-of-three.

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