Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrapup

March 16, 2008

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 10-6 ACC Regular-Season Record: 2-4

Last Week: 3-2 Tue. W home vs. UNC Greensboro, 11-10 Wed. W home vs. UNC Greensboro, 6-5 Fri. L home vs. Boston College, 6-4 Sat. L home vs. Boston College, 7-6 Sun. W home vs. Boston College, 16-2

Next Week Tue. Home vs. Coastal Carolina, 7:15 PM Wed. Home vs. Furman, 7:15 PM Fri. Home vs. N.C. State, 7:15 PM Sat. Home vs. N.C. State, 7:00 PM Sun. Home vs. N.C. State, 1:00 PM

Notes Clemson went 3-2 in five games this past week, including winning two one-run games over UNC Greensboro and one win in three games against Boston College over the weekend.

Clemson, ranked #24 in the nation, won two one-run games against UNC Greensboro at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on March 11,12. The Tigers outscored the Spartans 17-15 and outhit them .313 to .310. Ben Paulsen was 4-for-8 with two homers and four RBIs in the series, while Kyle Parker, Mike Freeman, and Stan Widmann added three hits apiece.

In game-one on March 11, Clemson built an 11-0 lead through six innings and held on for an 11-10 win. Paulsen hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Freeman hit a grand slam, his first career home run, in the sixth inning. But the Spartans scored six runs in the seventh inning and four runs in the ninth inning. They had the tying run on first base before Matt Vaughn struck out Tim Carrier to end the game and earn the save. Clemson’s 4-7 hitters (Paulsen, Parker, Jeff Schaus, Freeman) combined for 11 hits and eight RBIs, including five by Freeman. The win marked the first time since 1950 that Clemson allowed double-digit runs in back-to-back games and still won both contests.

In game-two on March 12, Clemson scored four runs in the ninth inning to win 6-5. The Tigers trailed 5-2 entering the ninth inning before Paulsen led off with a home run. Three walks loaded the bases, then Widmann hit a two-out, two-run single to left field to tie the score. The errant throw to the plate allowed Alex Lee to score the winning run. John Nester added a solo home run in the eighth inning. The Spartans outhit the Tigers 9-6, but four Spartan pitchers combined for seven walks. Matt Zoltak picked up the win in relief with a perfect ninth inning.

Clemson lost two of three games against Boston College from March 14-16 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers outscored the Eagles 26-15 and outhit Boston College .351 to .250. Wilson Boyd went 10-for-16 (.625) with two doubles, a triple, six RBIs, and four steals in the series. Clemson also had a 2.67 ERA and struck out 27 against just four walks in the series, but it committed five errors that led to seven unearned runs and two losses by a combined three runs.

In game-one on March 14, Tony Sanchez’s two-run homer in the seventh inning lifted Boston College to a 6-4 victory over Clemson. The Tigers held a 3-2 lead entering the seventh inning, but a costly throwing error on a routine groundball and a two-out flyball that fell for a run-scoring double preceded Sanchez’s long ball. Clemson outhit the Eagles 12-8, stole four bases, and had 15 batters reach base, but the Tigers hit into three double plays. Eagle starter Terry Doyle scattered 10 hits in 6.0 innings pitched to earn the win. Tiger starter Doug Hogan added two hits and two RBIs.

In game-two on March 15, Boston College scored five runs in the final two innings and held on for a 7-6 victory over Clemson. The Tigers scored three runs in the first two innings, but the Eagles scored the game’s next seven runs. Garret Smith’s two-out, run-scoring single in the eighth inning put Boston College ahead for good. After the Eagles added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, Boyd hit a two-run triple and Hogan hit a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Tigers fell one run short. Michael Belfiore went 3-for-5 with four RBIs to pace the Eagles, who outhit Clemson 12-9. Schaus was 3-for-4 to lead the Tigers. Clemson committed three errors that led to four unearned runs.

In game-three on March 16, Clemson scored seven runs in the first inning and nine runs in the sixth inning in its 16-2 victory over Boston College. The Tigers’ eight-hit first inning was highlighted by John Hinson’s two-run triple, while the seven-hit sixth inning was highlighted by Parker’s two-run homer. Parker was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Boyd went 5-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Clemson’s 19-hit attack. Twelve different Tigers had at least one hit and 11 scored at least one run. Starter Graham Stoneburner allowed three hits, one run, and no walks with eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched to earn the win.

During the week, the Tigers hit .337 with a .410 on-base percentage, 43 runs, and 11 stolen bases in five games. The pitching staff had a 4.00 EREA and .274 opponents’ batting average.

Boyd led the Tigers by going 12-for-24 (.500) with three doubles, a triple, six RBIs, and four stolen bases in five games. Freeman was 8-for-16 (.500) with a homer and five RBIs as well. On the mound, Stoneburner earned wins in both of his starts. In a combined 9.0 innings pitched, he faced just 31 batters (four over the minimum). He also allowed only six hits, one run, and one walk with eight strikeouts.

The Tigers have a 10-6 overall record and 2-4 ACC mark. Prior to the game on Sunday, Clemson had played eight consecutive games decided by two runs or less (4-4 record in those games). Ten of the Tigers’ 16 games this year have been decided by two runs or less (6-4 record) as well.

The team is hitting .327 with a .402 on-base percentage and .523 slugging percentage thanks to 63 extra-base hits in 16 games. Boyd leads or is tied for the the team-lead in batting average (.411), hits (30), multi-hit games (9), homers (5), RBIs (22), multi-RBI games (8), and stolen bases (5). He is also riding a current 14-game hitting streak. Parker is hitting .388 with five homers and 13 RBs as well.

The pitching staff has a 4.91 ERA and .282 opponents’ batting average on the season. Freshman lefthander Casey Harman has a 2.25 ERA and 13 strikeouts against just one walk in 12.0 innings pitched over seven appearances (one start). Vaughn has five saves and 17 strikeouts against two walks in 9.1 innings pitched over eight relief appearances as well.

Clemson will continue its 12-game homestand with five home games this week. The Tigers will face Coastal Carolina on Tuesday and Furman on Wednesday before hosting N.C. State next weekend.