Baseball Prepares for UNC-Wilmington

Feb. 22, 1998

Friday, Feb. 27 North Carolina-Wilmington at Clemson – 3:00 PM

Saturday, Feb. 28 North Carolina-Wilmington at Clemson – 2:00 PM

Sunday, Mar. 1 North Carolina-Wilmington at Clemson – 2:00 PM

UNC-Wilmington Quick Facts 1998 Record: Head Coach: Mark Scalf Series Record: Clemson leads 29-7

Probable Position StartersPos #   Player          B-T Cl.     G-GS    Avg.    HR  RBIC   15  Derek Borgert   R-R *Jr.    8-6     .208    1   3 or 41  Brian Ellis     L-R *So.    4-3     .333    0   21B  25  Jason Harris    L-L Jr.     9-9     .419    3   92B  18  Kurt Bultmann   R-R Jr.     9-9     .421    2   7SS  4   Doug Roper      S-R *So.    9-9     .536    0   73B  8   Brian Holstad   R-R *So.    9-9     .278    0   3LF  9   Peter Nystrom   R-R Fr.     9-7     .364    2   8 or 1   Henri Stanley   L-L So.     9-4     .313    1   2CF  24  Patrick Boyd    S-R Fr.     9-9     .206    2   7RF  22  Matt Padgett    L-R Jr.     8-8     .429    1   4DH  1   Henri Stanley   L-L So.     9-4     .313    1   2 or 17  Justin Hyde     R-R Jr.     6-3     .200    1   3Probable Starting Pitching Rotation  #   Player              Cl. W-L G-S ERA     IP      BB  SO29  Skip Browning, RHP  So. 1-0 3-3 3.86    16.1    7   1427  Ryan Mottl, RHP     So. 2-0 3-3 5.87    15.1    5   1330  Mike Paradis, RHP   So. 1-0 2-1 3.38    8.0     6   10

Clemson Sweeps Monarchs Clemson swept the three-game series against Old Dominion on Feb. 20-22 at Tiger Field. With the three wins, Clemson upped its record to 8-1.

In game one, a see-saw affair ensued as Old Dominion took an early 1-0 lead in the second. The Tigers responded with run-scoring doubles by Brian Ellis and Brian Holstad. After the Monarchs took back the lead in the fourth inning, Clemson scored two runs in the fifth off a bases load hit-by-pitch and a bases loaded double play. Closer Scott Clackum struck out Joseph Troilo with runners on the corners and two outs in the ninth to preserve the Tigers 5-4 victory.

In game two, Clemson rallied from a 6-1 deficit to win another one-run game 11-10 over Old Dominion. The Tigers did so in the bottom of the ninth on a Kurt Bultmann bases loaded walk to end the game. Earlier, the Monarchs’ Tony Gsell had hit a game-tying grand slam. Clemson was led at the plate by Doug Roper, who continued his torrid hitting at the ninth spot in the lineup with a 4-for-5 performance.

In game three, Clemson had 18 hits en route to a 12-7 win. Nine different Tigers had hits. Matt Padgett and Henri Stanley had homers in the effort. After a 100 minute rain delay, the Monarchs took a 5-4 lead. But the Tigers responded with eight consecutive runs. Brian Adams picked up the win in relief. Peter Nystrom also added two doubles.

Tigers Take Two Of Three Against Pirates Clemson outscored East Carolina 24-6 in the last two games after losing the first game 6-1 on Friday, Feb. 13.

In game one, East Carolina starting pitcher Brooks Jernigan and reliever John Payne held the Tigers to one run and the top three hitters in the Pirate lineup had a combined six hits. Clemson never threatened, and managed its lone run on an RBI groundout by Casey Stone in the ninth inning.

In game two, Clemson responded with a resounding 16-4 victory behind five home runs and nine total extra base hits. Patrick Boyd, Mike Calitri, and Justin Hyde each hit their first homers as a Tiger. Calitri’s homer came in his first collegiate at bat. Sophomore Skip Browning pitched seven innings to earn the win. Clemson scored in seven of the eight innings in which it batted.

Game three saw sophomore righthander Ryan Mottl pitch seven innings to earn the win in the Tigers 8-2 victory in the rubber game. The Tigers added three more long balls on the afternoon, as Clemson improved its record to 5-1.

Olive Garden Classic Recap Clemson opened its 1998 season in the Olive Garden Classic in Kissimmee, FL. The Tigers went 3-0 in one of the most prestigous tournaments in the country to earn championship honors over three teams that participated in the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

In game one, sophomore Ryan Mottl led the Tigers to a 4-2 victory over South Florida in the opening game of the tournament. Mottl pitched seven innings, only allowing a two-run home run by Mike Pilger. Scott Clackum pitched two perfect innings to record his first save of 1998.

In game two versus Central Florida, junior college transfer Jason Harris hit his first home run as a Tiger to propel Clemson to a 7-6 come-from-behind win. Doug Roper went 3-for-3 in the effort, and Scott Clackum picked up his second save in as many games.

In the final game, Clemson used a seven-run sixth inning to defeat 10th-ranked Auburn 9-4. It was Leggett’s 25th win over a top-10 team in four-plus seasons as Clemson’s head coach. Sophomore Mike Paradis pitched four innings of relief, allowing only two hits and no runs to gain the victory and the tournament championship. Junior Derek Borgert led the way at the plate, belting a two-run homer, his first long ball since his freshman season.

Kurt Bultmann was named the tournament MVP by going 6-for-14 with two doubles and four RBIs. Bultmann was joined by first baseman Jason Harris and righthander Ryan Mottl on the all-tournament team.

Roper Comes Back Strong After missing all but one game of the 1997 season, redshirt sophomore shortstop Doug Roper has started 1998 with a bang. The Vidalia, GA native has 15 hits in 28 at bats for a .536 batting average. He also has four stolen bases, second most on the team. Roper was 5-for-47 (.106) entering the ’98 season.

Harris Impressive As Tigers’ First Baseman Junior Jason Harris is hitting .419 with three homers and a team-high nine RBIs as the Tigers’ new first baseman in 1998. The Brevard College transfer has also scored 10 runs and been hit by pitch four times. He also has not committed an error and has struck out only once.

Bultmann Picks Up Where He Left Off Kurt Bultmann has started 1998 with a bang after setting the Clemson single-season record for doubles with 31. The junior from Seminole, FL hit two doubles in the three-game Olive Garden Classic. He also had six hits in 14 at bats and was named the tournament MVP. The second baseman has moved over from the shortstop position now that Doug Roper is back from a season-ending injury in 1997.

Bultmann is currently hitting .421 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and seven RBIs in nine games.

ACC Coaches Pick Clemson To Finish Second1.  Florida State (3)   732.  Clemson (2)         70    Georgia Tech (3)    704.  N.C. State          455.  Wake Forest (1)     446.  Duke                387.  North Carolina      318.  Virginia            239.  Maryland            11

Clemson’s 203 Wins since 1994 Second Best In The Nation The barometer of a great season in college baseball is getting to Omaha and winning 50 games. Since Jack Leggett took over as Clemson’s head coach in 1994, the Tigers have won 203 games (excluding 1998) for an average of almost 51 per season. Included in that total is 53 wins against top 25 teams. Included among the 53 wins is 24 victories over top 10 teams.

Tiger Field Rated Among Best In The Country Beautiful Tiger Field has helped Clemson gain one of the best home-field advantages in the country. The Tigers have won over 84 percent of its home ACC games and 82 percent of its overall home games, dating back to 1970.

Baseball America recently published its rankings of the top baseball stadiums in the country based on aesthetics, playing conditions, and amenities. Tiger Field was ranked #8 in the country in Baseball America’s preseason issue, which is also tops in the ACC.