Top-25 Showdown Set for Clemson as Georgia Tech Visits Tigers

CLEMSON, S.C. (Interstat) — Two of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s hottest teams will clash Friday when Georgia Tech visits eighth-ranked Clemson in a pivotal early-season series opener at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under clear skies with temperatures near 51 degrees.

The matchup features teams with a combined 28-4 record. Clemson (15-2) enters with the conference’s best mark, while Georgia Tech (13-2) has won 11 of its last 12, including a 14-0 rout of Georgia on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets’ potent offense, averaging over 11 runs per game during that stretch, will be tested by a Tigers squad that has won 10 of its last 11.

A player to watch for Georgia Tech is junior infielder/outfielder Vahn Lackey. He is riding a torrid streak, blasting three home runs with 11 RBIs over his last five games. In Tuesday’s win over Georgia, he went 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs.

Clemson will counter with right-handed reliever Noah Samol, who has been effective in limited work. In his last appearance Tuesday against Georgia Southern, Samol threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three.

The Tigers are looking to bounce back from a 6-1 midweek loss to Georgia Southern, their first defeat since Feb. 27. Georgia Tech’s offense, which exploded for 44 runs in a three-game sweep of Virginia Tech last weekend, presents a formidable challenge.

Interstat’s projections offer a split verdict: its game simulator predicts a narrow 8-7 Georgia Tech victory, while its ELO rating system gives Clemson a 60.6% probability to win.

This series is a critical early barometer in the ACC race. Georgia Tech continues its road trip at Auburn on Tuesday, while Clemson hosts the College of Charleston next Tuesday.