Clemson Baseball to Play Host to Pacific in Three-Game Series this Weekend

Feb. 22, 2007

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Clemson vs. Pacific Clemson (3-1), ranked as high as #2 in the nation, will play host to Pacific (4-6) this weekend in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Game times are 4:00 PM (Friday), 2:00 PM (Saturday), and 12:00 PM (Sunday). All three games will be broadcast live on the radio by WCCP (104.9 FM) out of Clemson and can be heard live on the internet at WCCPFM.com. Live stats will also be available at ClemsonTigers.com for all three games.

The Series Clemson and Pacific have never met on the diamond.

The Starting Pitchers In game-one, Pacific will start sophomore lefty Joey Centanni (0-2, 2.95 ERA) on the mound. The San Diego, CA native has made three starts for a total of 18.1 innings pitched. He has allowed 20 hits (.267 opponents’ batting average) and nine walks with 10 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with junior righty P.J. Zocchi (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on Friday. The Bronx, NY native allowed one run, no hits, and no walks with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched against George Mason on February 16.

In game-two, Pacific will send out freshman righthander Hunter Carnevale (2-1, 2.20 ERA) on the mound. The Roseville, CA native has made three starts and one relief appearance for a total of 16.1 innings pitched. He has yielded 19 hits (.279 opponents’ batting average) and six walks with 11 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with sophomore lefty Ryan Hinson (0-0, 2.25 ERA) on Saturday. The Rock Hill, SC native allowed three hits, one run, and three walks with three strikeouts in a start against George Mason on February 18.

In game-three, Pacific will start freshman lefty David Rowse (0-2, 10.80 ERA) on the mound. The Pleasanton, CA native has made three starts for a total of 15.0 innings pitched. He has allowed 26 hits (.394 opponents’ batting average) and nine walks with nine strikeouts.

Clemson’s starter for Sunday has yet to be determined.

The Pacific Tigers Pacific, led by fourth-year Head Coach and former Major Leaguer Ed Sprague, enters the series with a 4-6 overall record after winning two of three games at home against Nevada last weekend. The team, who is 0-3 on the road, opened the season by losing two of three games at home versus Cal State Northridge. After defeating Sacramento State 16-10, the Tigers were swept at Hawaii from February 9-11.

The Tigers are hitting .263 as a team with a .365 on-base percentage. Justin Baum is hitting a team-best .382 with a .553 on-base percentage thanks to 13 walks in 10 games. Joe Oliveira is hitting .375 with a team-high 15 hits. Five different Tigers have accounted for the team’s five homers on the season.

Pacific has a 4.86 ERA and .317 opponents’ batting average. The staff also has 51 strikeouts, but has issued 46 walks in 87.0 innings pitched. Reliever Jake Wild has the team’s lone save in seven relief appearances. Pacific sports a .949 fielding percentage as well.

Twenty-five of the 28 players on Pacific’s roster hail from the state of California, while the other three are from Colorado, Hawaii, and Washington.

The Clemson Tigers Clemson enters this weekend’s series against Pacific with a 3-1 overall record after defeating High Point 11-3 on Wednesday in a game shortened to six innings by heavy fox at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. All four games have been at home as well.

The team is hitting .299 with a .392 on-base percentage. Stan Widmann, Doug Hogan, Brad Chalk, Marquez Smith, and Taylor Harbin are all tied for the team-lead with five hits apiece. Chalk has reached base via a hit or walk in 31 straight games dating back to last season. Hogan leads the club with three homers and five RBIs.

The pitching staff has a 3.00 ERA and .215 opponents’ batting average. It has combined to strike out 35 against only 10 walks. The Tigers are fielding at a .966 clip as well.

Alta Loma, CA native Daniel Moskos is the lone Tiger native of the state of California.

Worth Noting * Clemson is hitting .350 with runners in scoring position this season despite going hitless (combined 0-for-11) in that situation in two of its four games. * Clemson has 25 RBIs as a team this season, but just two (on Marquez Smith two-run homer against George Mason on February 18) have come with two outs. Only one of its opponents’ 10 RBIs have come with two outs as well.

Father Sees Son Go Deep, Part II In 2006, former Tiger Tanner Leggett, son of Head Coach Jack Leggett, hit his only home run as a Tiger against Virginia Tech on April 28. It was a special moment for the elder Leggett, as he is Clemson’s third-base coach and got to give his son an extra-long handshake after rounding third base.

Another thrilling moment for a Tiger coach occurred on February 21, 2007 against High Point. Freshman infielder Ben Paulsen, son of Assistant Head Coach Tom Riginos, hit a two-run homer in Clemson’s six-run third inning. It was Paulsen’s first hit as a Tiger, and it was key in Clemson’s 11-3 win. Paulsen is 2-for-6 with three runs scored in three games this season.

Tiger Bats Awaken in 11-3 Win Over High Point Clemson, ranked #2 in the nation, scored six runs in the third inning en route to an 11-3 victory in six innings over High Point at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on February 21. The Tigers trailed 2-0 after the first inning, but a run-scoring single by Doug Hogan also added a two-run homer in the fifth inning, as Clemson totaled 12 hits in all. D.J. Mitchell pitched 4.0 innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts to earn the win. The start was delayed over three-and-a-half hours by inclement weather, then the game was called in the bottom of the sixth due to thick fog in the area.