Clemson baseball fans can breathe a sigh of relief—the Tigers' top two starting pitchers are set to take the mound in the team's final ACC series of the season. Head coach Erik Bakich had considered resting his aces, but both will get the nod as Clemson faces Virginia Tech in a three-game showdown from May 14-16 at English Field in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Right-hander Michael Sharman, who boasts an impressive 6-1 record with a 3.25 ERA, is slated to start Game 2, while Aidan Knaak (2-6, 5.27 ERA) will toe the rubber in the series finale. The Tigers enter the matchup with a 30-23 overall record and a 9-19 mark in ACC play, while the Hokies sit at 27-22 and 13-14 in conference action.

Bakich's decision to deploy his top arms comes after a tough series loss to Florida State on May 10, when he noted that "everything's on the table" regarding the starting rotation. The reasoning? Clemson's path to a fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance won't be determined by this series outcome alone, making it a strategic opportunity to keep pitchers sharp without overextending them.

While the exact pitch counts remain uncertain, the move signals that Bakich values competitive momentum heading into postseason play. For a team looking to build confidence after a challenging ACC slate, having Sharman and Knaak lead the charge could be exactly what the Tigers need to close out the regular season on a high note.