Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrap-Up

Feb. 25, 2007

Overall Season Record: 6-1 ACC Regular-Season Record: 0-0

Last Week: 4-0 Wed. W home vs. High Point, 11-3 (6 innings) Fri. W home vs. Pacific, 8-3 Sat. W home vs. Pacific, 4-3 (Game 1) (11 innings) Sat. W home vs. Pacific, 5-4 (Game 2)

Next Week Wed. Home vs. Winthrop, 4:00 PM Sat. Home vs. South Carolina, 2:00 PM Sun. Away vs. South Carolina, 1:30 PM

Photo Gallery (courtesy of Randy Rampey)

Notes Clemson, ranked #2 in the nation, won four games last week at home after trailing by at least a 2-0 score in each game. Clemson beat High Point 11-3 on Wednesday in a game shortened to six innings due to heavy fog. Then Clemson swept Pacific in three games over the weekend by scores of 8-3, 4-3 (11 innings), and 5-4.

Clemson 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 Taylor Harbin followed by a double by Andy D’Alessio, a triple by Marquez Smith, and a two-run homer by Ben Paulsen, his first hit as a Tiger, highlighted the six-run third inning. 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.

Clemson swept Pacific in three games on February 23,24 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson outscored Pacific 17-10 and won two one-run games. Clemson hit .321 in the series to Pacific’s .271, as Pacific left 33 runners on base and was just 4-for-36 (.111) with runners in scoring position. Brad Chalk was 8-for-12 in the series to lead Clemson, while Hogan (7-for-13) and Stan Widmann (4-for-8) also had productive series. Clemson pitchers also combined for a 1.86 ERA and 31 strikeouts in the three games.

In game-one on February 23, Clemson overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat Pacific 8-3. Clemson scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie the score. A dropped foul ball by Erik Hamren in the fifth inning allowed Harbin to double in a run and Smith to single home the tying run. In the sixth inning, Clemson scored five runs, highlighted by Smith’s two-run single to cap the scoring. Hogan and Widmann added solo homers, while Chalk was 3-for-3 with two walks, meaning he reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Stephen Clyne pitched 5.1 innings in relief to earn the victory. He allowed just three hits, no runs, and one walk with five strikeouts.

In game-two, which was the first game of a doubleheader on February 24, Brad Chalk infield single in Clemson’s 4-3 victory over Pacific. Clemson matched Pacific’s two-run second inning with two runs in the bottom of the second on Widmann’s two-run single. Widmann had all three of Clemson’s RBIs. Clemson left 12 runners on base, while Pacific stranded 11. Pacific outhit Clemson 12-10, including four hits by Joe Oliveira, but Pacific could not come through with a clutch hit. Daniel Moskos earned the win thanks to 3.0 scoreless innings pitched in relief.

In game-three, which was the second game of a doubleheader on February 24, Smith’s three-run homer in the fifth inning was the difference in Clemson’s 5-4 win over Pacific. For the third straight game, Clemson faced an early deficit only to rally to victory. Pacific outhit Clemson 11-10, but it stranded 13 runners on base. Chalk paced Clemson with a 3-for-3 performance, while Hogan added two hits and an RBI. David Kopp did not allow an earned run in 5.0 innings pitched to earn the win, while Matt Vaughn picked up his first career save by pitching 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Clemson hit .336 in the four games last week and outscored its opponents 28-13. Chalk was 8-for-15 (.533) with three walks, Hogan was 8-for-17 (.471) with a triple, two homers, and four RBIs, and Smith was 8-for-17 (.471) with a triple, homer, and seven RBIs. Chalk also upped his streak of reaching base via a hit or walk to 34 games dating back to 2006. Widmann was 5-for-12 (.417) with a homer and six RBIs in three games, as he missed the last game of the weekend with a neck injury.

The Tiger pitchers combined for a 2.31 ERA and struck out 39 against 12 walks. Clyne pitched 5.1 scoreless innings and upped his scoreless inning streak to 23 innings dating back to last season. Clemson fielded at a .966 clip last week as well.

Clemson is hitting .308 overall with a .396 on-base percentage. The team has combined for 32 walks while striking out just 26 times. Chalk leads the team with a .481 batting average and .576 on-base percentage. Hogan is hitting .444 with four homers and seven RBIs after entering the season just 6-for-46 (.130) with a homer and seven RBIs in 46 career games. Widmann is hitting .409 with a homer and six RBIs, while Smith has added two homers and a team-best nine RBIs as well.

The pitching staff has a 2.47 ERA and .241 opponents’ batting average overall. The pitchers have combined for 66 strikeouts and only 20 walks while allowing only a .149 opponents’ batting average with runners in scoring position. Kopp has not allowed an earned run in 10.0 innings pitched over two starts this season.

The Tigers will play at home on Wednesday against Winthrop, who has defeated Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium each of the last two seasons. Then the Tigers will play a home-and-home weekend series against South Carolina. The first game on Saturday will be at Doug Kingsmore Stadium at 2:00 PM, while the Sunday game will be at South Carolina at 1:30 PM.