Clemson Baseball Team to Play Host to Maryland Friday, Saturday & Sunday

April 7, 2011

Clemson vs. Maryland Clemson (16-12, 4-8 ACC) will host Maryland (14-15, 2-10 ACC) in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. Game times are 6:30 PM (Friday), 7:00 PM (Saturday), and 1:00 PM (Sunday). All three games will be available live via webcast on TigerCast at ClemsonTigers.com. All three games will also be broadcast live on the radio by Clemson Tiger Sports Network. Live stats will be available at ClemsonTigers.com for all three games as well.

TigerCast Broadcast LinksFriday | Saturday | Sunday

Tribute to the Late Coach Bill Wilhelm Saturday The late Bill Wilhelm, who led Clemson to 1,161 wins as head coach from 1958-93, will be honored prior to Saturday’s baseball game between Clemson and Maryland at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, which is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM. In 36 seasons as the Tiger head coach, he never had a losing season and directed the program to six College World Series appearances. Wilhelm passed away at the age of 81 on December 24, 2010.

Ms. Wilhelm along with Wilhelm’s sons, Michael and Randall, will be a part of the pregame ceremony. Current players will wear #38 T-shirts during batting practice in honor of the recently-inducted College Baseball Hall of Fame member. All former Tigers who played for Wilhelm are invited to participate in the pregame ceremony. Contact Roberta Balliet in the Clemson Baseball Office at (864) 656-1940 or rballie@clemson.edu for more information on the pregame ceremony.

The Series Clemson and Maryland have met 153 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 114-39 lead in the series dating back to the 1923 season. The two teams have faced each other at least one time every year since 1954.

In the three-game series at Bob Smith Stadium in 2010, Clemson swept the Terrapins by a combined score of 37-19. In 2009 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Tigers won the first two games before Maryland won game-three by a score of 8-6.

The Tigers hold a 63-7 lead over the Terrapins in games played at Clemson and a 53-2 lead at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson also holds a 101-35 advantage in ACC regular-season games. Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Starting Pitchers In game-one, Maryland will start junior righthander David Carroll (5-1, 2.15 ERA) on the mound. The Las Vegas, NV native has made seven starts for a total of 46.0 innings pitched. He has given up 39 hits (.239 opponents’ batting average) and 19 walks with 27 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with sophomore righty Dominic Leone (0-1, 5.54 ERA) on Friday. The Norwich, CT native has made three starts and three relief appearances for a total of 13.0 innings pitched. He has allowed 12 hits (.255 opponents’ batting average) and eight walks with 14 strikeouts.

In game-two, the Terrapins will send out senior lefty Eric Potter (2-3, 4.25 ERA) on the mound. The Crofton, MD native has made eight starts for a total of 36.0 innings pitched. He has yielded 24 hits (.200 opponents’ batting average) and 24 walks with 30 strikeouts.

Clemson will counter with sophomore righty Scott Firth (2-0, 3.55 ERA) on Saturday. The Buffalo Grove, IL native has made four relief appearances and three starts for a total of 25.1 innings pitched. He has allowed 19 hits (.198 opponents’ batting average) and 16 walks with 16 strikeouts.

Both team’s starting pitchers for game-three on Sunday have yet to be determined.

The Terrapins Maryland, led by second-year Head Coach Erik Bakich, enters the series at Clemson with a 14-15 overall record and 2-10 ACC mark after defeating West Virginia on the road 10-6 on Tuesday. Bakich served as Clemson’s volunteer coach during the 2002 season when the Tigers advanced to the College World Series. The Terrapins also won one of three games at home over Florida State last weekend and are 2-9 on opponents’ home fields in 2011.

Maryland is averaging 4.3 runs per game and hitting .245 with a .318 slugging percentage and .342 on-base percentage thanks to 107 walks and 32 hit-by-pitches against 187 strikeouts. The team has also totaled 36 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, and 53 stolen bases in 66 attempts.

Ryan Holland leads the team with a .322 batting average, seven doubles, one triple, one homer, 18 RBIs, and a .431 on-base percentage. Charlie White is batting .314 and is 10-10 on stolen bases, while Alfredo Rodriguez has a team-high 11 steals.

The pitching staff has a 4.46 ERA and .239 opponents’ batting average along with 221 strikeouts against 171 walks in 254.0 innings pitched. Junior lefthander Korey Wacker has a team-high two saves, 2.13 ERA, and .152 opponents’ batting average in 12.2 innings pitched over nine relief appearances. Maryland is fielding at a .975 clip as well.

The Tigers Clemson enters the series against Maryland with a 16-12 overall record and 4-8 ACC mark after winning a pair of midweek games at home over Coastal Carolina (5-4 in 10 innings) and Western Carolina (12-3). The Tigers, who were swept at #6 North Carolina last weekend, sport a 14-4 home record in 2011.

The Tigers are averaging 7.3 runs per game and hitting .314 with a .444 slugging percentage and .414 on-base percentage thanks to 152 walks and 28 hit-by-pitches. Clemson has also totaled 54 doubles, nine triples, 17 homers, and 40 stolen bases.

Brad Miller is batting .354 with an ACC-best .506 on-base percentage. Jeff Schaus is up to .330 with 20 walks against only eight walks, while Richie Shaffer is hitting .327 with a team-high 34 runs and four home runs.

The pitching staff has a 3.83 ERA and .244 opponents’ batting average in 246.2 innings pitched. The staff has allowed 89 walks against 211 strikeouts, good for a 2.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Senior righty Alex Frederick has two saves and a .178 opponents’ batting average in 14 relief appearances. The Tigers are fielding at a .963 clip as well.

Leggett 16th on All-Time NCAA Wins ListJack Leggett has 1,162 wins in 32 seasons as a head coach. That win total is 16th on the all-time NCAA Division I list. He passed the late Bill Wilhelm, who is tied for 17th place with 1,161 in 36 seasons (1958-93) at Clemson, on April 6 in the Tigers’ 12-3 win over Western Carolina. Leggett also owns the seventh-most wins among active coaches.

Pohle Rolling Along Freshman righthander Kevin Pohle (Saint Louis, MO) has been one of the team’s most consistent relievers in 2011. In 14.2 innings pitched over nine relief appearances, he has allowed 15 hits (.263 opponents’ batting average) and two earned runs, good for a 1.23 ERA. His downward movement on his pitches is also a big reason he has allowed just one earned run (1.13 ERA) in 8.0 innings pitched over six relief appearances in ACC regular-season games. He is tied for the team lead in wins (3) as well.

Tigers Walk Off With 5-4 Win Over Chanticleers Pinch-hitter Doug Kingsmore Stadium on April 5. The Chanticleers led 4-3 until pinch-hitter Will Lamb went 2-for-3 with a key one-out triple and the tying run in the ninth inning along with two walks. David Haselden pitched 7.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball in relief to earn the win.

Clemson Cruises to 12-3 Win Over Catamounts Doug Kingsmore Stadium on April 6. The Tigers scored five runs in the third inning and never trailed again. Clemson also scored two runs in the fourth inning, three runs in the fifth, and two runs in the eighth. Both teams tallied 10 hits, but Western Carolina only scored three of its 16 basesrunners. Starter Scott Weismann pitched 6.0 effective innings to earn the win. Jack Leggett earned career win #1,162 against the program he once served as head coach (1983-91), passing the late Bill Wilhelm and Norm DeBriyn for sole possession of 16th place on the all-time wins list by a head coach at a Division I school.