Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrap-Up

March 5, 2007

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 7-3 ACC Regular-Season Record: 0-0

Last Week: 1-2 Wed.  W  home vs. Winthrop, 6-4 Sat.  L  home vs. #4 South Carolina, 0-12 Sun.  L  away vs. #4 South Carolina, 2-3

Next Week Wed. Home vs. Coastal Carolina, 4:00 PM Fri. Home vs. Memphis, 4:00 PM Sat. Home vs. Memphis, 2:00 PM Sun. Home vs. Memphis, 1:00 PM

Notes Clemson went 1-2 last week in three games, including two against #4 South Carolina. The Tigers rallied to defeat Winthrop 6-4 on Wednesday, then lost both games of a home-and-home series against the Gamecocks by scores of 12-0 and 3-2.

Taylor Harbin’s two-run homer in the seventh inning proved to be the difference in #2 Clemson’s 6-4 victory over Winthrop at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on February 28. The Eagles scored four runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead. But Andy D’Alessio hit a towering two-run homer in the sixth inning to cut Winthrop’s lead to one run. After tying the score on an Eagle error in the seventh, Harbin’s long home run later in the frame put the Tigers on top for good. Winthrop outhit the Tigers 10-8, but five of Clemson’s hits went for extra bases. Stephen Clyne pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in relief of one-hit ball to earn the win, while Daniel Moskos pitched a perfect ninth inning to record the save.

South Carolina hit three home runs on its way to a 12-0 victory over Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on March 3. The shutout broke Clemson’s streak of 165 consecutive home games of scoring at least one run dating back to 2002. Justin Smoak had a game-high three hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer. Phil Disher and James Darnell each hit three-run homers and totaled four RBIs, while the Tigers had just two hits the entire game. South Carolina also left just three runners on base and had 12 hits in the game. Harris Honeycutt pitched 7.0 innings, allowing two hits, no runs, and four walks with seven strikeouts to record the win.

Trent Kline’s run-scoring single in the ninth inning lifted South Carolina to a 3-2 victory over Clemson at Sarge Frye Field on March 4. Clemson tied the score 1-1 on Marquez Smith’s run-scoring single in the seventh inning, then took a 2-1 lead on Addison Johnson’s RBI single in the eighth inning. With two outs and no one on base, South Carolina rallied for a run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Disher’s RBI double. D’Alessio and Smith each had two hits for the Tigers, who outhit South Carolina 8-7. Ryan Hinson pitched 6.0 strong innings in a starting role. He allowed only four hits, one run, and one walk with five strikeouts in a no-decision.

In three games during the week, Clemson hit .198. D’Alessio was the Tigers’ top hitter, as he was 4-for-10 with a triple, homer, and two RBIs. The pitching staff had a 5.81 ERA and .279 opponents’ batting average during the three-game week. Clyne pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball in relief against Winthrop to earn the win, while Hinson pitched 6.0 effective innings in a no-decision at South Carolina on Sunday.

On the season, Clemson has a 7-3 overall record. The team is hitting .278 with a .362 on-base percentage. Doug Hogan leads the way with a .412 batting average, two triples, four homers, and seven RBIs. Brad Chalk is hitting .395 with a .489 on-base percentage. He has also reached base via a hit or walk in 37 straight games dating back to 2006.

Stan Widmann hit .409 without committing an error in the first six games as Clemson’s starting shortstop, but has missed the last four games due to a neck injury. The junior from Hurst, TX will have tests performed this upcoming week to help determine the severity of the injury. In his absence, Harbin has started at shortstop. He has not committed an error in 17 chances at the position in 2007.

The Tigers have a 3.46 ERA and .253 opponents’ batting average through 10 games this season. Clyne has not allowed a run in 10.2 innings pitched over four relief appearances. He has a streak of 26 consecutive scoreless innings pitched dating back to 2006. Hinson has a 1.20 ERA in three starts as well.

Clemson will return to action on Wednesday when it faces Coastal Carolina at Doug Kingsmore Stadium at 4:00 PM. Then over the weekend, the Tigers will play host to Memphis for a three-game set.