Clemson Baseball Team to Play at South Carolina Sunday Afternoon

Feb. 28, 2009

Clemson vs. South Carolina Clemson (4-1), ranked as high as #19 in the nation, will travel to Columbia to take on South Carolina (4-0) on Sunday at Carolina Stadium in the second of four scheduled meetings. The Gamecocks scored two runs in the ninth inning to down the Tigers 3-1 on Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch for Sunday’s game is scheduled for 1:30 PM. It will be the Tigers’ first-ever game at the Gamecocks’ new 9,000-seat stadium and Clemson’s first road game of the year. The game will be broadcast live on the radio by Clemson Tiger Sports Network. Live stats will also be available at ClemsonTigers.com. The two teams will also play two more times in April (April 8 at Clemson, April 22 at South Carolina).

The Series Clemson and South Carolina have met 284 times on the diamond, with Clemson holding a 163-119-2 lead in the series dating back to 1899. South Carolina is Clemson’s most-played rival in history. Earlier this seaosn on Feburary 28, South Carolina scored two runs in the ninth inning to top Clemson 3-1. In 2008, South Carolina won all four matchups. In 2007, South Carolina won the first three meetings before Clemson won the final matchup by a score of 14-5 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. In the 2006 season, the Tigers won three of four meetings, while the two teams split the four-game season series in both the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The Gamecocks hold a 74-65-2 lead over the Tigers in games played in Columbia. Jack Leggett is 28-28 against South Carolina as Clemson’s head coach, including a 14-13 mark in games played at South Carolina. Leggett was also 3-8 against the Gamecocks as Western Carolina’s head coach, meaning he is 31-36 all-time against South Carolina.

The Starting Pitchers South Carolina will start junior righty Blake Cooper (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on the mound. The Neeses, SC native has made one start (6.0 innings pitched). He has allowed two hits (.111 opponents’ batting average), no runs, and no walks with seven strikeouts. Clemson will counter with freshman lefty Chris Dwyer (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on Sunday. The Swampscott, MA native has made one start for a total of 6.2 innings pitched. He has allowed two hits (.091 opponents’ batting average) and one walk with nine strikeouts.

The Gamecocks South Carolina, led by 13th-year Head Coach Ray Tanner, enters Saturday’s game with a 4-0 record after downing #19 Clemson 3-1 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday. The Gamecocks are 3-0 at home and have outscored their opponents 30-5 this season. The Gamecocks are averaging 7.5 runs per game and hitting .298. The team has totaled seven doubles, one triple, five homers, and 23 walks against 28 strikeouts. DeAngelo Mack is hitting .333 with three homers, seven RBIs, six runs, and six walks in just 12 at-bats. Whit Merrifield has two of the team’s three stolen bases, while Parker Bangs has two of the squad’s three sacrifice flies. The pitching staff has a 1.25 ERA and .107 opponents’ batting average with 38 strikeouts against 20 walks in 36.0 innings pitched. The staff has also given up just 12 hits and has not thrown a wild pitch. Senior lefthander Alex Farotto has the team’s lone save and earned the win against Clemson on Saturday. South Carolina is fielding at a .993 clip as well.

The Tigers Clemson, ranked as high as #19 in the nation, enters Sunday’s game with a 4-1 record after falling to the Gamecocks 3-1 on Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Sunday’s game marks Clemson’s first game away from home this season. The Tigers are hitting .240 with a .370 slugging percentage and .357 on-base percentage. The team has totaled 15 stolen bases, including seven by Addison Johnson. Ben Paulsen, who is 6-for-12 in the last three games, is hitting .389 with one homer and four RBIs. Casey Harman has a team-high 11 strikeouts against only one walk in 6.1 innings pitched. The team is fielding at a .983 clip as well.

Johnson Back & Running Wild Sophomore outfielder Addison Johnson (Pfafftown, NC) was one of Clemson’s best hitters in the latter stages of his freshman season in 2007. But two different injuries forced him to miss all of 2008 and red-shirt. His loss was a tough blow to the Tigers due to his ability to “stir things up” on the bases and be Clemson’s “sparkplug” as the leadoff batter. He has made his return to the lineup in 2009 and has wasted little time making his presence felt, especially on the basepaths. In five games, he has seven stolen bases in eight attempts. Johnson had eight steals during his entire freshman season, as he is a big reason Clemson is averaging 3.0 steals per game in 2009. He also has tremendous range in centerfield and has saved many runs for Tiger pitchers.

Gamecocks Score Late to Down Tigers 3-1 DeAngelo Mack’s solo homer in the ninth inning gave South Carolina the lead and the Gamecocks held on for a 3-1 win over #19 Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on February 28. Matt Sanders’ solo homer in the sixth inning tied the score. Then with one out in the ninth inning, Mack’s opposite-field long ball and a Gamecock insurance run later in the frame proved to be the difference. Three Gamecock hurlers limited the Tigers to just two hits and did not allow a Clemson leadoff batter to reach base. Alex Farotto pitched 2.2 hitless and scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Tiger reliever Casey Harman pitched 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit, no runs, and no walks with six strikeouts. Four Tiger pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts as well.