CLEMSON BASEBALL WEEKLY WRAPUP

March 21, 2010

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 17-2 ACC Regular-Season Record: 6-0

Last Week: 4-1 Tue. L, Away vs. Charlotte, 11-10 Wed. W, Home vs. Georgia Southern, 22-6 Fri. W, Home vs. Virginia Tech, 3-0 Sat. W, Home vs. Virginia Tech, 5-2 (Game 1) Sat. W, Home vs. Virginia Tech, 13-8 (Game 2)

Next Week Tue. Home vs. Elon, 6:30 PM Wed. Home vs. Elon, 6:30 PM Fri. Away vs. Virginia, 6:00 PM Sat. Away vs. Virginia, 4:00 PM Sun. Away vs. Virginia, 1:00 PM

Notes Clemson, ranked as high as #7 in the nation, went 4-1 in five games this past week, including spitting a pair of midweek games and a three-game sweep of Virginia Tech over the weekend.

Zane Williams’ three-run double with two outs in the eighth inning lifted Charlotte to an 11-10 win over Clemson at Charlotte, NC on March 16. The Tigers scored five runs with two outs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Kyle Parker’s two-run homer, to tie the score, then they scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a two-run lead, capped by John Hinson’s three-run homer with two outs. But Williams came through with a clutch double down the left-field line to snap Clemson’s five-game winning streak. The two teams combined for 15 two-out RBIs and each team walked eight times.

Behind 21 hits, including nine doubles, one triple, and six home runs, Clemson blasted Georgia Southern 22-6 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on March 17. It was the most runs scored by Clemson since 2006. The Tigers scored eight runs in the first inning thanks to four home runs. The Tigers put up another eight-run inning in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Clemson hit back-to-back home runs on three different occasions, while every Tiger starter had at least one hit and every Clemson starter scored at least one run. Jeff Schaus went 3-for-5 with two homers and six RBIs, while Parker, John Nester, Addison Johnson, and Chris Epps also added one homer apiece. Mike Kent earned the win in his first career appearance, as he pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of two-hit ball in relief.

Clemson swept Virginia Tech by a combined score of 21-10 in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on March 19,20. Clemson upped its home winning streak over the Hokies to 14 games with the sweep. The Tigers outhit the Hokies .309 to .233. Wilson Boyd went 6-for-12 with a double, three RBIs, and three runs, while Parker added four hits, including a homer, and five runs. The Tiger pitching staff had a 2.67 ERA, while the three starting pitchers combined to allow just 14 hits and one earned run in 19.1 innings pitched (0.47 ERA).

In game-one on March 19, Casey Harman and Will Lamb led off the third inning with a double and scored on Mike Freeman’s sacrifice fly. The Tigers added one run in the sixth and one run in the eighth, both on bases-loaded walks.

In game-two on March 20, which was the first game of a doubleheader, Lamb pitched 6.0 strong innings to lead Clemson to a 5-2 win over Virginia Tech. Lamb allowed seven hits and one unearned run to earn the win against his home-state team. Alex Frederick pitched the final 3.0 innings to record the save. Clemson outhit the Hokies 12-10, led by Parker’s 2-for-4 performance with a homer and two RBIs. The Hokies stranded 13 runners on base, including nine in scoring position.

In game-three on March 20, which was the second game of a doubleheader, Clemson scored three runs apiece in the second, third, seventh, and eighth innings in its 13-8 victory over Virginia Tech. The Tigers answered with three runs in each of the four innings in which the Hokies scored. Boyd went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs to lead Clemson’s 13-hit attack. Nester added four RBIs, while Johnson hit a three-run triple in the second inning. Scott Weismann pitched 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts to earn the win. Jonathan Meyer pitched the final 1.1 innings to record the save.

During the week, the Tigers hit .351 with a .447 on-base percentage, 53 runs, nine home runs, 15 doubles, two triples, 29 walks, and six stolen bases in five games. The pitching staff had a 4.09 ERA and .254 opponents’ batting average.

Boyd led Clemson by going 11-for-22 (.500) with four doubles, four RBIs, and seven runs, while Parker went 8-for-17 (.471) with three homers, one double, five RBIs, 10 runs, and five walks. Schaus added two homers and six RBIs, while Hinson hit a homer with seven RBIs. Nester also had a productive week, as he was 5-for-10 (.500) with a homer, two doubles, eight RBIs, and two runs in four games.

On the season, the Tigers sport a 17-2 overall record, including a 15-0 mark at home. The Tigers, who are 6-0 in the ACC, sit atop the ACC Atlantic Division standings by three games, ahead of second-place Florida State (3-3). Clemson is also the only unbeaten team in league play, while Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), and Virginia are all 5-1 in the ACC.

Clemson is hitting .316 with a .539 slugging percentage and .424 on-base percentage thanks to 113 walks against 119 strikeouts in 19 games. The Tigers have also totaled 32 homers, 43 doubles, three triples, 31 steals, and are averaging 9.7 runs per game.

Parker is hitting a team-best .414 with nine homers, two doubles, 21 RBIs, 28 runs, 17 walks against 12 strikeouts, an .829 slugging percentage, a .534 on-base percentage, and three steals. Parker also has 10 multi-hit games, including five three-hit games. Brad Miller is hitting .359 with a .470 on-base percentage, while Schaus is hitting .342 with six homers, six doubles, and 29 RBIs. Boyd is also riding a 10-game hitting streak and has upped his batting average to .343.

The pitching staff has a 3.47 ERA and .241 opponents’ batting average along with 130 strikeouts against 67 walks in 171.0 innings pitched on the season.

The starting weekend rotation of Harman, Lamb, and Weismann have combined for a 9-0 record. In a combined 78.0 innings pitched, they have allowed just 63 hits and have a 2.31 ERA. Haselden is 2-0 with one save and has not allowed a hit or run in 9.0 innings pitched over four relief appearances. Meyer and Frederick have two saves apiece as well.

The Tigers, who through Saturday played eight games in an eight-day span, will play a two-game midweek series against Elon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium before they take to the road for a three-game series at Virginia over the weekend. The Tigers have not played at Virginia since 2006, as no current Tiger has ever played a collegiate game at UVa Baseball Stadium.