CLEMSON BASEBALL WEEKLY WRAPUP

May 29, 2011

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 41-18 ACC Regular-Season Record: 17-13

Last Week: 2-1 Wed. W, Neutral* vs. #8 Georgia Tech, 9-0 Thu. L, Neutral* vs. #7 Florida State, 6-3 Sat. W, Neutral* vs. N.C. State, 6-3 * – ACC Tournament at Durham, NC

Next Week TBA

Last Week’s Game Notes Clemson, ranked as high as #14 in the nation, went 2-1 in the ACC Tournament at Durham (NC) Bulls Athletic Park from May 25-28. The Tigers outscored their opposition 18-9 and had a .298 batting average along with 10 doubles, four homers, three steals, and 11 walks against only nine strikeouts. Jeff Schaus was 5-for-13 with two doubles, while Chris Epps went 3-for-9 with two homers, one double, five RBIs, and three walks. The Tiger pitching staff had a 3.00 ERA and .284 opponents’ batting average. Clemson’s defense committed just one error and turned six double plays as well.

In the Tigers’ first game of the ACC Tournament on May 25, Dominic Leone and David Haselden combined for a six-hit shutout in Clemson’s 9-0 win over #8 Georgia Tech. Leone allowed four hits with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched to earn the win, then Haselden pitched 4.0 innings of two-hit ball to record the save. Epps’ three-run homer in the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie. The Tigers added five runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by two-out, two-run doubles by both Richie Shaffer and Schaus. Seven of Clemson’s eight RBIs came with two outs. Schaus went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Clemson, who totaled 13 hits in the game.

In the Tigers’ second game of the ACC Tournament on May 26, every Seminole starter had a hit in #7 Florida State’s 6-3 win over Clemson. The Seminoles put seven leadoff batters on base and James Ramsey went 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBIs to lead Florida State’s 13-hit attack. Sean Gilmartin tossed 6.0 effective innings to earn the win, while Daniel Bennett pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record the save. Will Lamb had two hits apiece to pace the Tigers, who totaled 10 hits in the game. Clemson stranded eight runners on base, including six in scoring position.

In the Tigers’ third game of the ACC Tournament on May 28, Clemson hit three home runs and defeated N.C. State 6-3. Brad Miller hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to cut N.C. State’s lead to 2-1. Then with the Wolfpack ahead 3-1 with two outs in the sixth inning, Shaffer crushed a three-run homer to give the Tigers the lead for good. Epps added a solo homer in the seventh inning. Scott Weismann pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to record the save.

2011 Season Notes Clemson has a 41-18 overall record and 17-13 ACC regular-season mark on the season. Clemson, who is 26-7 in home games, 11-8 in away games, and 4-3 in neutral-site contests, is #7 in the unofficial RPI by WarrenNolan.com. The Tigers have won 27 of their last 33 overall games as well.

On Sunday, the Tigers will await word to see if they will host an NCAA Regional. There are several factors in Clemson’s favor:

Clemson has an RPI of #7 and a strength of schedule of #9 according to WarrenNolan.com. Clemson is 14-13 against top-50 RPI teams, but 17 of those 27 games have been against teams in the top eight of the RPI. Furthermore, 23 of those 27 games have been against top-31 RPI teams. In the Tigers’ last 33 games, they are 27-6. That includes series wins over #9 Georgia Tech and at #4 Florida State along with a 2-1 record in the ACC Tournament. Clemson ended the regular season by winning each of its last seven weekend series, including six ACC series wins in a row. Clemson has not lost more than one game in a week for eight straight weeks. Clemson suffered key injuries to ace starter Brad Miller (missed 2-3 weeks) during its early-season struggle to a 14-12 (4-8 ACC) start. All three players are healthy and have been instrumental in Clemson’s late-season surge. Clemson is first in the ACC in batting average and third in the ACC in ERA. Clemson is sixth in the nation in scoring margin (+3.4 runs per game). The Tigers are 1-8 in one-run games, therefore nearly half of their losses have been by one run. Clemson is ninth in the nation in average home attendance.

The Tigers are hitting .319 with a .458 slugging percentage and .405 on-base percentage thanks to 280 walks and 43 hit-by-pitches in 2011. The team has also totaled 120 doubles, 16 triples, 43 homers, and 101 stolen bases along with hitting .335 with runners in scoring position on the season. Clemson is fielding at a .970 clip as well.

Brad Miller leads the ACC in batting average (.419) and on-base percentage (.523) by large margins along with totaling 11 doubles, three triples, five homers, 46 RBIs, 51 runs, 38 walks, and a team-tying-high 21 stolen bases in 52 games (50 starts). In the last 34 games, he is 59-for-126 (.468) with 38 RBIs.

Jeff Schaus is batting .326 with 19 doubles and 42 RBIs, while Chris Epps his hitting .290 with 10 homers, 39 RBIs, and 10 steals as well.

The pitching staff has a 3.12 ERA and .231 opponents’ batting average in 522.2 innings pitched this season. It has allowed 446 hits and 174 walks with 455 strikeouts, good for a 2.61 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Justin Sarratt has a 2.40 ERA along with a team-high seven wins. In 75.0 innings pitched over 17 appearances (12 starts), the graduate student has a 7-2 record and has allowed 64 hits (.230 opponents’ batting average) and 13 walks against 60 strikeouts. The Tigers have an 11-1 record in his 12 starts in 2011.

David Haselden is 5-1 with three saves, a 2.12 ERA, and 47 strikeouts against 14 walks in 72.1 innings pitched over 23 appearances (four starts). Jonathan Meyer is 5-2 with one save, a 3.31 ERA, and .221 opponents’ batting average. Dominic Leone is 6-2 with a 3.38 ERA and .207 opponents’ batting average.

Scott Weismann continues to impress in his new role of closer. In his last 13 relief appearances, he has pitched 14.0 innings. He has seven saves and has allowed four hits (all singles), no runs, and two walks with 21 strikeouts during that span.

Clemson will await word from the NCAA Baseball Committee to see if it is picked to host an NCAA Regional. That announcement will be made on Sunday at 3:30 PM. Then on Monday at 12:30 PM, the NCAA Tournament selection show will air live on ESPN.