Clemson baseball, 18-8, 1-5 ACC, is gearing up for another marquee weekend series against a conference foe: the Miami Hurricanes, 19-6, 2-4 ACC.

The Tigers have had a rocky season thus far, following a glaring loss to Coastal Carolina in which they blew a six-run lead. The Tigers have faced criticism across their fan base, creating an opportunity for the team to find its stride and prove the doubters wrong.

Clemson is currently on a four-game losing streak following the midweek meltdown against Coastal Carolina and a series sweep against Notre Dame last weekend.

On the other hand, the Hurricanes are riding a five-game winning streak, fueled by a prolific offense, and have sparked back-to-back series wins against Creighton and FAU.

Clemson and Miami are experiencing two different narratives. Clemson is looking to regain balance and reestablish itself as a prominent force in the ACC, and the Hurricanes have seemingly found their identity.

The Tigers have struggled defensively. They continue to find themselves in peculiar situations, specifically in their most recent loss against Coastal Carolina. Carolina scored multiple runs on an infield pop fly due to a collision with an umpire, resulting in two runs, which ignited the comeback.

Miami’s recent success has created situations that allow the Hurricanes to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes. The most recent example is the double play that sealed their series win against FAU. The Owls were caught in a hit-and-run when the batter popped up to center field, allowing the Hurricanes to turn an impressive double play.

This weekend’s series will be an intriguing matchup. Clemson aims to flip the narrative, and Miami looks to continue its recent success. Both teams have been streaky this season, but now is the time for both squads to make a name for themselves and make a run heading into April.

The series opener kicks off Thursday at 7 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.