Knight-Clemens key matchup

OMAHA, Neb. — Back around the turn of the millennium, when the New York Mets meant something more than everlasting misery and Roger Clemens was clothed in pinstripes for the “Evil Empire” across town, one particular duel overshadowed all.

Clemens and Mets star Mike Piazza spent most of their careers in opposing leagues and faced off infrequently. But that served only to make each meeting all the more enticing.

The rivalry’s two indelible moments — Piazza sprawled motionless in the dirt after taking a Clemens fastball to the head, and Clemens skipping a shattered bat at the catcher in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series — overshadowed the catcher’s success against the seventime Cy Young winner. Piazza slashed .364/.440/.955 with four home runs and 10 runs batted in against Clemens.

Eighteen years later, there’s a new conflict simmering involving a Clemens and a dominant, self-assured pitcher at the College World Series.

On Friday, ahead of Sunday’s 1 p.m. game between Texas (42-21) and Arkansas (44-19) at TD Ameritrade Park, All-American Razorbacks starter Blaine Knight (12-0, 2.84) was asked about facing All-American

Nati Harnik / Associated Press Texas second baseman Kody Clemens is batting .356 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs.