CLEMSON BASEBALL WEEKLY WRAPUP

Feb. 26, 2012

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 4-2 ACC Regular-Season Record: 0-0

Last Week: 2-1 Fri. L, Home vs. Maine, 5-6 Sat. W, Home vs. Maine, 9-5 Sun. W, Home vs. Maine, 9-6

Next Week Fri. Neutral* vs. South Carolina, 6:00 PM Sat. Away vs. South Carolina, 2:00 PM Sun. Home vs. South Carolina, 2:00 PM (ESPN3) * – Charleston, SC

Last Week’s Game Notes Clemson, ranked as high as #16 in the nation, won two of three games over Maine by a combined score of 23-17 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium from February 24-26. The Tigers outhit Maine .317 to .296 and totaled 17 walks against only 14 strikeouts. Phil Pohl went 6-for-11 (.545) with a homer, double, and five RBIs in the series, while Steve Wilkerson was 7-for-14 with two doubles, five RBIs, and six runs. Richie Shaffer went 6-for-12 with a homer, double, and five RBIs as well. The Clemson pitching staff had a 3.33 ERA and totaled 26 strikeouts against only nine walks in the series.

In game-one on February 24, Maine scored all six of its runs on two-out hits and held on to edge Clemson 6-5. The Black Bears held a 4-0 lead until Clemson scored four runs in the seventh inning, capped by Pohl’s run-scoring single, to tie the score. But Maine responded with two runs in the eighth inning to regain the lead. Clemson put runners at second and third with one out in the ninth inning, but the Tigers managed to score just one run in the frame and fell one run short. Thomas Brittle and Pohl had three hits apiece to lead the Tigers, who stranded 11 runners on base.

In game-two on February 25, Clemson overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat Maine 9-5. Maine scored four runs in the third inning, but Clemson scored nine combined runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings. The Tigers scored five runs in the fifth inning, capped by Spencer Kieboom’s three-run homer that gave Clemson the lead for good. Pohl added a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Starter Dominic Leone earned the win, while Mike Kent pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief during a key part of the game. Richie Shaffer led the Tigers by going 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Brittle was 1-for-2 with a triple, two runs, one RBI, three walks, and one stolen base.

In game-three on February 26, Clemson overcame a 6-0 deficit and scored the game’s final nine runs to top Maine 9-6. The six-run comeback was Clemson’s largest to gain victory since 2008. The Tigers, who committed five errors, helped the Black Bears jump out to a 6-0 lead. But the Tigers scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, then Clemson scored five two-out runs in the sixth inning to close out the scoring. Wilkerson and Pohl both hit two-run doubles in the sixth inning to highlight the uprising. Wilkerson went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs to lead Clemson’s 14-hit attack. Kevin Pohle pitched 3.0 solid innings in relief with four strikeouts to earn the win, while Daniel Gossett recorded his first career save.

2012 Season Notes Clemson has a 4-2 overall record and 0-0 ACC mark on the season. Both of Clemson’s losses were by one run. The series win over Maine was Clemson’s ninth regular-season series win in a row dating back to 2011. It is Clemson’s longest such streak since it won 10 regular-season series in a row from 2006 to 2007.

The Tigers are hitting .285 with a .440 slugging percentage and .384 on-base percentage thanks to 26 walks and seven hit-by-pitches against only 26 strikeouts in 2012. The team has also totaled 10 doubles, one triple, six homers, and six stolen bases. Clemson is fielding at a .967 clip as well.

Phil Pohl is among the ACC leaders in batting average (.476) and has two homers, two doubles, nine RBIs, six runs, and a .577 on-base percentage. He also has four multi-hit games. Richie Shaffer, who left Sunday’s game with a mild hip flexor strain, is batting .364 with two homers, two doubles, eight RBIs, and six runs. Shaffer’s status will be re-evaluated during the upcoming week. Shaffer, Jon McGibbon, and Pohl have reached base safely in all six games as well.

The pitching staff has a 2.83 ERA and .290 opponents’ batting average in 54.0 innings pitched this season. It has allowed 60 hits and 16 walks with 45 strikeouts, good for a 2.81 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Sophomore righthander Kevin Pohle is 2-0 and has not allowed an earned run in 7.0 innings pitched over two relief appearances in 2012. Junior righty Kevin Brady has an 0.90 ERA and nine strikeouts against two walks in 10.0 innings pitched over two starts.

Clemson will return to action on Friday night when it travels to Charleston, SC to take on South Carolina at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The series will conclude with games on Saturday (Columbia) and Sunday (Clemson).