With its pitching being so effective in a season-opening sweep of Army last weekend, Clemson will go with the same starting rotation against Bryant.
The Bulldogs will visit Doug Kingsmore this weekend for a three-game set beginning on Friday, marking the first meetings between the two teams.
SERIES SETUP
• Who – Bryant (2-1) vs. Clemson (4-0)
• Best Ranking – BRY – NR; CU – No. 15 NCBWA
• When – Friday (4 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.), Sunday (1 p.m.)
• Where – Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium)
• Watch – ACC Network Extra
• Video Announcers – William Qualkinbush (Friday, Saturday), Ron Smith (Friday, Saturday), Tony Ciuffo (Sunday), Bob Mahony (Sunday)
Erik Bakich will go with the same rotation that he did in the sweep of the Black Knights last weekend. Drew Titsworth was expected to be part of the rotation but was out last weekend. Bakich said ahead of the season that Titsworth would be back for this series. Whether he will be available out of the bullpen is yet to be determined.
STARTING PITCHERS
• Friday – RHP Kaden Hilburger (BRY) vs. RHP Aidan Knaak (CU)
• Saturday – RHP Dylan Scudder (BRY) vs. LHP Michael Sharman (CU)
• Sunday – LHP Jackson Vanesko (BRY) vs. LHP Talan Bell (CU)
Knaak went just three innings in his first start of the season, allowing one unearned run on three hits. He struck out six, but did walk two hitters.
Sharman turned in arguably the best outing of the opening weekend, going six scoreless, allowing just one hit, and striking out eight. He did not walk a hitter.
After being limited somewhat in the preseason, Bell went just two innings in the series finale. He allowed two hits and struck out two, while facing the minimum six batters.
Over the first four games, Clemson pitchers have allowed just two earned runs and only issued seven walks, while registering 41 strikeouts.
Bryant took two out of three on the road at Davidson last weekend, with two of those games going to extras.
CLEMSON OVERVIEW
• Clemson, which has played all its games at home in 2026, defeated Charlotte 11-1 in seven innings on Tuesday.
• The Tigers are averaging 7.8 runs per game and hitting .361 with a .588 slugging percentage, .469 on-base percentage and three steals.
• The pitching staff has an 0.55 ERA, a .179 opponents’ batting average and 5.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .969.
BRYANT OVERVIEW
• Bryant, which has played all its games on the road and is averaging 8.0 runs per game, is led by seventh-year Head Coach Ryan Klosterman.
• The Bulldogs won two of three games at Davidson last weekend. They are hitting .300 and have a 7.66 ERA and .978 fielding percentage.
• Casey Wensley is 7-for-11 with a homer and five RBIs, Charlie Saul has two homers and seven RBIs and Justin Dressler has one save.
QUICK HITS
• Bryant Head Coach Ryan Klosterman played 17 games off the bench in his one season (2001) at Clemson.
• Clemson has more walks (23) than strikeouts (15) at the plate.
• Clemson pitched 25 innings in a row without allowing a run until Charlotte hit a solo homer in the final inning on Tuesday.
SHARMAN FILLING ROLE
• Senior lefthander and transfer Michael Sharman filled in in the rotation during the opening weekend and has been in the rotation since.
• He is 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA, .050 opponents’ batting average and eight strikeouts versus no walks in 6.0 innings pitched over one start.
• He retired the first 17 batters and allowed one hit and no walks with eight strikeouts to earn the win against Army West Point on Feb. 14.
Clemson Athletic Communications contributed to this story
Photo by Bart Boatwright