Clemson Baseball Notes

April 16, 2000

UPCOMING GAMES THIS WEEK Tuesday, April 18 Elon at Clemson 7:15 PM Wednesday, April 19 Clemson at South Carolina 7:00 PM Friday, April 21 Clemson at Duke 3:00 PM Saturday, April 22 Clemson at Duke 1:00 PM Sunday, April 23 Clemson at Duke 1:00 PM LAST WEEK’S RESULTS Tuesday, April 11 Georgia at Clemson W, 9-7 Wednesday, April 12 South Carolina at Clemson L, 6-3 Saturday, April 15 (Game 1) Wake Forest at Clemson W, 6-5 (12) Saturday, April 15 (Game 2) Wake Forest at Clemson W, 5-4 Sunday, April 16 Wake Forest at Clemson L, 6-4

Noteworthy

Justin Singleton has played two games after missing nearly amonth with a hand injury. He went 3-for-3 in his first official atbats against #11 Wake Forest on April 16 and is 8-for-his-last-11after starting the season 1-for-28. Scott Berney is 0-4 in his lastfour starts, but Clemson has supported him with just seven runs and20 hits in those four games. Nick Glaser’s 11 saves is second mostin a season in Tiger history. The record is 14 held by ScottWinchester (14). Clemson has one of the nation’s best fieldingpercentages of .971 and has committed just one error in the lastfour games. Clemson is 19-0 when it totals 10 hits or more in agame. Freshman righthander Jarrod Schmidt has earned a win in eachof his last six starts. He is 6-0 with a 2.24 ERA on the season.Tiger pitchers are holding opponents to a .180 batting average withtwo outs and .146 average with the bases loaded. Clemson is 4-1 inone-run games and 7-1 in two-run games this year. Mike Calitri is4-for-4 with the bases loaded and has 18 RBIs in only 46 at bats.

Elon Up Next in Tigers Final Game of Homestand Clemson (31-9) plays its final home game in its 11-game homestand against Elon Tuesday at 7:15 PM.

Elon leads the series 1-0. The only meeting came back in 1920. The game, which was played at Clemson, ended 6-3 in favor of the Fightin’ Christians. The two teams meet again 80 years later.

Tigers Take Two of Three from #11 Wake Forest Clemson won two of three games against #11 Wake Forest at Doug Kingsmore Stadium from April 15-16. Clemson won the first two games by 6-5 (12 innings) and 5-4 scores, while the Demon Deacons won game three 6-4. The four games were decided by a total of four runs. Sixth-ranked Clemson broke Wake Forest’s seven-game winning streak and 11-game winnings streak overall in game one. Clemson had also lost to Wake Forest six straight times.

In game one of a doubleheader on April 15, Clemson 6-5 in 12 innings. It as Clemson’s first extra-inning game of 2000. Brian Ellis’ double to right-center plated pinch-runner Brian Holstad for the winning run. Ellis was 3-for-7 in the game. Six other Tigers had multi-hit games, including Jarrod Schmidt and Ryan Riley added two RBIs apiece. Ryan Mottl pitched the first 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Nick Glaser came in to save the game in the eighth, but gave up the tying run on a balk. He still pitched 4.0 scoreless innings, while striking out five. Thomas Boozer recorded the final out of the 12th and earned the win. Clemson did not commit and error in 57 chances. The game lasted 4:33.

In game two of a doubleheader on April 15, Clemson hung on again for a 5-4 win thanks to Glaser. Glaser pitched 2.0 more innings without allowing a run to earn his 11th save, the second most in a season in Tiger history. Jarrod Schmidt pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three runs, as he won in his sixth straight start. Ellis led the Tiger bats with two hits, as Clemson totaled just five hits overall. Wake Forest had 13 hits, but stranded 16 runners. Glaser worked out of a jam in the eight inning when the Demon Deacons had runners on second and third with no outs. The closer struck out the first batter and after an intentional walk, got the next to batters to fly out.

Game three saw starter Eric Schmitt manhandle Tiger batters in the Demon Deacons 6-4 win. Scott Berney suffered his fourth loss in as many decisions by allowing five runs and 10 hits in 7.1 innings. Wake Forest jumped out to a 3-0 lead until Clemson cut it to 3-2 in the seventh inning. But Dan Conway’s three-run homer in the eighth inning proved to be the difference. Clemson scored a run in the eighth and another in the ninth, but fell short. Justin Singleton led the Tigers with a 3-for-3 day, upping his streak to seven hits in his last eight at bats after starting the season 2-for-31. Ryan Riley also added two hits. Conway and Cory Sullivan had three hits as well.

Overflow Crowd on Hand at Clemson-South Carolina Game Tickets were hard to come by. In fact, it was nearly impossible to gain admittance to the Clemson-South Carolina game on April 12 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium because the game. Both teams were ranked in the top-six, not to mention the rivalry that exists in all sports between the two schools leads the fan frenzy. Lines of approximately 100 people gathered at each of the three gates before the gates were opened an hour-and-a-half before first pitch. Tickets were unavailable to the general public on gameday because tickets had been sold in advance and sold out. The official attendance was 6,134, second highest in Clemson history. The Clemson-South Carolina game in Columbia on April 19 was sold out before the first matchup between the two. The Tiger record crowd is 6,223 at the Clemson-North Carolina game on April 1, 1995. That game was played right after the Clemson Spring Football game. Clemson won that game 20-1.

Injury Update Sophomore righthander Steve Reba has the team’s best ERA at 0.55, but has seen action in only one game since March 8 due to soreness in his upper-right forearm. Reba’s status is day-to-day.

Senior outfielder Henr’ Stanley has a sore right hand and has missed the last two games. His status for the Elon game is questionable.

Freshman first-baseman Michael Johnson hurt his hip against Wake Forest on April 15 and has missed both games since. He is questionable for the Elon game.

Defense Performance on Record Pace Clemson’s .971 fielding percentage is well ahead of the team single-season record of .967 (set in 1976). The team has committed just 46 errors in 40 games and has committed just one in the last four games. Among some of the outstanding individual percentages include second baseman Ryan Riley’s .985 mark (two errors) and Khalil Greene’s ..946 mark (six errors).

Nailbiters No Problem Like last year, when Clemson had a stretch of 10 straight one-run wins in the latter stages, the Tigers have come up victorious on most occassions in 2000. Clemson is 11-2 in games decided by two runs or less, including a 4-1 record in one-run games and 7-1 record in two-run games. The main reason for that is the emergence of closer Nick Glaser. Glaser has 11 saves and like in years past with other Tiger closers, he has been stellar at shutting the door in the late innings.

Home Sweet Home Clemson is 28-5 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this season. Clemson’s only losses have come to UNLV, #17 East Carolina, N.C. State, #2 South Carolina, and #11 Wake Forest. Clemson entered the season with a 681-150 (.819) all-time record in the facility’s 31st year.

Clemson’s longest homestand in years, 23-games long, was completed on Mar. 26 with a 6-3 win over The Citadel. Clemson was 21-2 in the 23 games. The Tigers are now near the end of an 11-game homestand, and are 7-3 on that homestand.

Leggett Approaching 700 Career Wins Jack Leggett started the season with the most career wins by any collegiate head coach age 45 or younger. He turned 46 in March and can no longer make that claim. But he is on his way to 700 career wins, as he has 696 in his 21st season as a head coach, including his seventh at Clemson. His 696-411 record (.629) is quite a record for a coach his age. Leggett has a 319-124 (.720) record at Clemson.

Schmidt Having Stellar Freshman Season on the Mound Freshman Jarrod Schmidt came to Clemson with accolades such as First-Team All-American and Georgia Gatorade Player-of-the-Year out of Lassiter High School in Marietta, GA. And early on in 2000, he started at first base and outfield. But when the Tigers got into the rigorous college baseball schedule, Schmidt added another position to his repetoire…pitcher. Schmidt, who was “Mr. Do It All” at Lassiter, has done the same at Clemson. Unlike many schools, very few times in recent years has a pitcher played in the field and vice versa. But Schmidt is bucking that tradition as he has solidified himself as a weekend starter in Clemson’s rotation.

Schmidt has earned the win in each of his last six starts, including a complete game at #8 North Carolina on April 1, the only by a Tiger in 2000. Schmidt allowed no earned runs and seven hits at Chapel Hill. Overall, Schmidt is 6-0 with a 2.24 ERA as a weekend starter. Schmidt throws in the high 80s to lower 90s. Schmidt is also hitting .234 with a team-high four homers and 20 RBIs at the plate.

Jack Leggett foresees a bright future for Schmidt, and not just on the mound. Schmidt has shown the ability to play catcher along with first base and outfield. Schmidt can also hit for power, and with more consistency, could find a spot in the middle of the Tiger lineup in the future. Expect to see Schmidt in the next few years…all over the field.

Mottl Ties Benson for Third Place in Career Wins Senior righthander Ryan Mottl tied Kris Benson for third place in the Tiger career win list when he got the 29th win against N.C. State on April 8. Mottl allowed just one hit and no runs in 7.0 innings against the Wolfpack. In three previous starts against N.C. State, Mottl had a 0-1 record and 12.33 ERA. He earned ACC Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for that performance.

Mottl also has 326 career strikeouts, placing him in fifth place in that category in the Clemson recordbook. Mottl is 6-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 11 starts. He also has a 3.62 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2000.

Clemson Career Leaders in Wins

Clemson Career Strikeout Leaders

Glaser Climbing Tiger Save List Junior righthander Nick Glaser transferred to Clemson from Edmonds CC in Washington with the hopes of making an immediate impact. He has done just that as he has 11 saves in 21 appearances. He has allowed 20 hits, three earned runs, and 16 walks along with 32 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. He pitched 4.0 innings in relief in the first game of a doubleheader against #11 Wake Forest on April 15, then pitched 2.0 more innings in game two. He earned the save in game two and did not allow a run in either game.

He exudes the typical closer personality with his slingshot-type delivery and fiery attitude. His 11 saves places him second in saves in a season in Tiger history.

Clemson Single-Season Save Leaders

Singy On Fire Despite Being Hampered by Hand Injury Junior outfielder Justin Singleton began the season 1-for-28. Then, just when he seemingly started to get his bat going, he suffered a hand injury sliding into a base and missed nearly a month. But Singleton has still managed to keep his hot bat of late, going 8-for-11 since the season-beginning slump. He is also 7-for-his-last-8 as well. Singleton went 3-for-5 with four RBIs against Ohio on March 11 to begin his streaky hitting. He was 3-for-3 against #11 Wake Forest on April 16 in his first start since the Ohio game on March 11. With Patrick Boyd struggling, Clemson needs Singleton to continue his torrid hitting as the everyday right fielder.

Greene Solid at the Plate and in the Field Sophomore third baseman Khalil Greene has continued right where he left off last season. Overall, the Key West, FL native is hitting ..333 with two homers and 30 RBIs. Greene hit .358 with a Tiger freshman-record 98 hits in ’99. Greene has also made many great plays at third base. He is the only regular in the infield from a season ago. Greene has a .946 fielding percentage (six errors) this season after having a not-so-great .881 mark in 1999.

Calitri Showing Quality Over Quantity Junior first baseman Mike Calitri (Canton, MA) has made the most of his opportunities this season. He is hitting .326 with two homers and 18 RBIs. Most noteably, he has 18 RBIs in just 46 at bats, an incredible ratio. He is also 4-for-4 with the bases loaded this season. He has started just 13 games and never complains when he doesn’t get the call. Against #11 Wake Forest in the second game of a doubleheader on April 15, he was a late addition to the lineup for an injured Michael Johnson. What did he do? He hit a two-run, opposite-field homer, which proved to be the difference in Clemson’s 5-4 win.

Clemson 39-15 Against SEC Teams Under Leggett In six seasons under Head Coach Jack Leggett, Clemson has had tremendous success against the Southeastern Conference. Leggett’s record against the SEC as the Tigers’ skipper is 39-15 (.722), including 16 wins against top-25 teams. Leggett has at least a .500 record against all seven SEC schools he has faced while at Clemson. Below is a list of Leggett’s record at Clemson against each of the seven SEC member schools he has faced:

Clemson Offers Promotional Ticket Discounts to Fans This year, Clemson offers special promotional considerations to select fans. Clemson offers a Businessperson Special on all weekday day games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, where any fan who presents his/her business card will receive free admission. All Sunday home games are Senior Citizens’ Day, where any fan who presents his/her AARP card will receive free admission. Also on Sundays, all youngsters are invited on the field during the national anthem to stand next to their favorite Clemson player. Ticket prices for home games are $5 for adults and $2 for students. Clemson students who present their student ID will receive free admission.

ACC Tournament Tickets on Sale in Clemson Ticket Office Tickets for the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament are available at the Clemson University Athletic Ticket Office. The tickets are for general admission seating and are available for $45 each.

The tournament will be held May 16-21 at the Charlotte Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, SC. The ticket includes access to all 10 sessions. The cost of the ticket book is $45 for adults and $30 for students (with ID) and senior citizens, ages 60 and above.

Tickets can be ordered by call the Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-CLEMSON or in person by going to the office located at Game 9 of Memorial Stadium between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The deadline to order tickets through the Clemson Athletic Ticket Office is Friday, April 28.

Clemson’s 288 Wins Since ’94 Fifth 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 ’94 and entering the 2000 season, the Tigers have won 288 games for a 48-win average. Leggett has led Clemson to three 50-win seasons and two appearances in the College World Series in five seasons. Included in that total is 73 wins over top-25 teams and a 38-13 (.745) record against SEC teams.

Clemson Looks to Keep Streaks Alive in 2000 Clemson has participated in 13 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and has won at least 40 games for 14 straight seasons. Both marks rank in the top-five in the country currently. Clemson is tied for fourth in consecutive tournament appearances, trailing only Miami (FL) (27), Florida State (22), and Oklahoma State (19). Wichita State also a 13-year run in the tournament. As far as consecutive 40-win seasons, Clemson is fourth in the country with its 14-year streak. The Tigers trail only Florida State (22), Wichita State (22), and Oklahoma State (20) in that area. Notre Dame and Louisiana State are tied for fifth with 11 straight 40-win seasons.