Baseball Opens 2021 At Clemson This Weekend

The University of Cincinnati baseball team returns to the diamond for the first time in 345 days, facing No. 25 Clemson in a three-game set to open the 2021 campaign at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.
 
SERIES BUSINESS
The all-time series is knotted at two games apiece dating back to 1938. Cincinnati is 1-1 at Clemson and the teams are even in neutral-site matchups. This weekend marks the first meeting since 2011. 
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
UC's series at Clemson will be streamed on ACC Network Extra, the Atlantic Coast Conference's digital viewing option on the ESPN app and website. ACCNX is available if your cable provider carries the ACC Network. Announcers Tim Bourret (Friday), Marty Clary (Saturday, Sunday), William Qualkinbush (Friday, Saturday) and Pete Yanity (Sunday) will call the action.

WATCH: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

LIVE STATS
Visit BearcatStats.com all season long for live stats for UC baseball games. 
 
THE BEARCATS
• UC was 7-8 in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season and on a seven-game winning streak when games ended.
• Head Coach Scott Googins enters his fourth season with a 66-67 mark at UC and a career mark of 407-424.
• The Bearcats had a .407 on-base percentage and .969 fielding percentage a year ago.
 
THE TIGERS
• Clemson had a 14-3 overall record and 3-0 mark in 2020.
• The Tigers are led by sixth-year Head Coach Monte Lee, who has won 68 percent (182-86) of his home games.
• Clemson has nine of its first 11 games at home.

STARTING PITCHERS
• Friday – LHP Evan Shawver (CIN) vs. RHP Davis Sharpe (CU)
• Saturday – LHP Dean McCarthy (CIN) vs. RHP Ty Olenchuk (CU)
• Sunday – LHP Garrett Schoenle (CIN) vs. LHP Caden Grice (CU)

STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS ...

• LHP Evan Shawver has been named one of the Top 100 prospects in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft according to D1 Baseball. Listed at No. 45, the Amherst, Ohio, native ranks as the AAC's top pitcher. Shawver posted a 1.59 ERA in four starts during 2020, recording 35 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. 
• Shawver, 3B Eric Santiago and DH Wyatt Stapp were preseason All-American Athletic Conference selections, the first time in UC history three players earned preseason honors. Stapp is a two-time preseason all-conference honoree while Santiago and Shawver were tabbed for the first time.
• Stapp batted .283 in 46 at-bats with 13 hits, 11 RBIs, eight runs, two doubles and two stolen bases in 2020.
• Santiago started all 15 games for UC last season, posting a .314 batting average with 16 hits, one home run, nine RBIs, seven runs and three doubles in 51 at-bats. 
• Head Coach Scott Googins led the Bearcats to one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2019. The Bearcats won the Anerican Athletic Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Baseball Tournament for the first time in 45 years.
• The AAC's preseason poll, released on Dec. 30, 2020, tabbed the Bearcats to finish sixth. The conference will feature four-game home series this year with one day featuring a twin bill DH.
• UC will open the home schedule at UC Baseball Stadium set for Friday, March 12 against Western Michigan.
• Baseball earned a 3.345 team GPA in the fall of 202 with six players, Joey Bellini, Deondrae Bremner, Wyat Geesaman, Tanner Holen, Griffin Merritt and Zach Segal named TOP CATS for 4.0 GPAs.