Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrapup

Feb. 22, 2009

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

Last Week: 3-0 Fri. W home vs. Charlotte, 8-3 Sat. W home vs. Charlotte, 4-0 Sun. W home vs. Charlotte, 6-5 (10 Innings)

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

Notes Clemson swept Charlotte, the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic 10 title, in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium from February 20-22. The Tigers outscored the 49ers 18-8 and outhit them .265 to .225. Clemson also had 12 stolen bases and committed just one error. Brad Miller went 5-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs in the series, while Ben Paulsen was 4-for-10. Ten Tiger pitchers combined for a 2.57 ERA and 29 strikeouts against only four walks. Charlotte was just 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

In game-one on February 20, Clemson stole nine bases and capitalized on six errors to defeat Charlotte 8-3. It was the most steals in a game by the Tigers since 1989. Addison Johnson, who missed all of 2008 due to injury, was 3-for-4 with three runs and three steals, while Kyle Parker was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Mike Freeman, Jeff Schaus, and Miller added two steals apiece. Clemson broke the game open with three runs in the fifth inning thanks to six steals and three 49er errors. Trey Delk pitched 5.1 innings in a starting role to earn the win. He allowed just four hits, one run, and one walk with five strikeouts, while four Tiger hurlers combined for 10 strikeouts against one walk.

In game-two on February 21, Chris Dwyer pitched 6.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts to lead Clemson to a 4-0 win over Charlotte. In the freshman lefthander’s first career outing, Dwyer allowed just two hits and one walk in earning the victory, while Richard Mounce added a pinch-hit, run-scoring double.

In game-three on February 22, Wilson Boyd hit a walkoff single in the 10th inning to give Clemson a 6-5 win over Charlotte. The Tigers trailed 5-0 before they scored three runs in the seventh inning on home runs by Paulsen and Miller. Clemson then scored two runs in the eighth inning without the benefit of a hit to tie the score. With two outs and no one on base in the 10th inning, the Tigers loaded the bases before Boyd lined a single to right-center for Clemson’s first walkoff hit since 2007. Paulsen went 3-for-4 to lead Clemson. Tomas Cruz and Hinson combined to pitch 4.0 hitless and scoreless innings in relief to close out the game, while Hinson recorded the victory.

Clemson will play three games this upcoming week, a game against Wofford at home and a home-and-home weekend series against South Carolina.