Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrapup

March 28, 2010

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 18-6 ACC Regular-Season Record: 7-2

Last Week: 1-4 Tue. L, Home vs. Elon, 15-10 Wed. L, Home vs. Elon, 4-3 (10 Innings) Fri. L, Away vs. #1 Virginia, 4-3 Sat. W, Away vs. #1 Virginia, 8-5 (Game 1) Sat. L, Away vs. #1 Virginia, 3-1 (Game 2)

Next Week Wed. Home vs. Coastal Carolina, 6:30 PM Fri. Home vs. Boston College, 6:30 PM Sat. Home vs. Boston College, 6:30 PM Sun. Home vs. Boston College, 12:05 PM

Notes Clemson, ranked as high as #5 in the nation, went 1-4 in five games this past week. The Tigers saw Elon rally from a four-run deficit on Tuesday, then Clemson lost three of its next four games by a combined four runs, including two losses in three games at top-ranked Virginia by a combined three runs.

Elon won both games of a two-game midweek series against Clemson by a combined score of 19-13 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on March 23,24. The Phoenix outhit Clemson .317 to .257, while both teams stole seven bases. Will Lamb, Mike Freeman, and Kyle Parker all had three hits apiece to lead Clemson in the series. The Tigers also had a 5.68 ERA.

In game-one on March 23, Elon scored 11 runs in the last four innings to rally for a 15-10 win over Clemson. The loss snapped Clemson’s 18-game home winning streak dating back to 2009. The Phoenix held a 4-1 lead before the Tigers scored seven combined runs in the third through fifth innings. But thanks in part to four costly Tiger errors, Elon scored 11 runs, including five in the sixth inning to take the lead for good, in the final four innings. Clemson committed five errors in the game, leading to six unearned runs. Elon outhit Clemson 16-12. Wilson Boyd, Parker, and Lamb all hit solo homers, while Lamb was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and three runs. Four different Elon players had three hits apiece.

In game-two on March 24, Seth Canipe’s two-out single plated Ryan Adams for the game-winning run in the 10th inning to lift Elon to a 4-3 win over Clemson. Adams, who pitched a perfect 10th inning to record the save, hit a two-out double in the 10th and scored on Canipe’s single through the left side. Elon outhit Clemson 10-6, while both teams stranded 11 runners on base. Clemson, who walked eight times, left seven of its 11 runners in scoring position and failed to put its leadoff batter on base in all 10 innings.

Top-ranked Virginia won two of three games over Clemson at UVa Baseball Stadium on March 26,27. Both teams scored 12 runs in the series, while Virginia outhit Clemson .258 to .238. The Tigers walked 16 times with one hit-by-pitch and the Cavaliers walked just five times, one of which was intentionally. Clemson also put 45 runners on base to Virginia’s 33 in the series, but Clemson stranded 30 runners on base to Virginia’s 17. Jeff Schaus had a team-high five hits in the series. Clemson had a 3.91 ERA as well.

In game-one on March 26, Stephen Bruno hit a walkoff single in the ninth inning to lift Virginia over Clemson 4-3. Bruno, who also hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to tie the score, delivered the game-winning hit with one out when he hit a soft liner just over the glove of third-baseman John Hinson and inside the left-field line. Both teams had nine hits in the game, while Lamb had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Tigers. However, Clemson stranded 10 runners on base, including seven in scoring position.

In game-two on March 27, which was the first game of a doubleheader, Lamb tossed 7.0 strong innings to lead Clemson to an 8-5 win over Virginia. Lamb allowed just five hits, one earned run, and two walks to earn the win in his home state. David Haselden pitched the final 1.1 innings to record the save. The Tigers scored six combined runs in the final three innings, including three key runs in the ninth inning thanks to two costly Virginia errors. Clemson totaled nine hits, seven walks, one hit-by-pitch, and four steals as well.

In game-three on March 27, which was the second game of a doubleheader, Franco Valdes and Kenny Swab both his solo homers to lead Virginia to a 3-1 win over Clemson. The Tigers put 12 runners on base compared to Virginia’s eight, but Clemson stranded nine runners on base while the Cavaliers left just three on base. Scott Weismann pitched 7.0 solid innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and no walks with two strikeouts but suffered the loss. Parker went 2-for-4 with a first-inning RBI for Clemson, who outhit Virginia 7-6.

During the week, the Tigers hit .246 with a .365 on-base percentage, 25 runs, three home runs, five doubles, 33 walks, and 12 stolen bases in five games. The pitching staff had a 4.67 ERA and .285 opponents’ batting average.

Lamb led the Tigers at the plate by going 6-for-12 (.500) with one homer, one double, five RBIs, three runs, three walks, and one steal in four games (three starts). Parker also went 7-for-21 (.333), while Boyd’s 14-game hitting streak came to an end on Saturday. It was his fifth career double-digit hitting streak. On the mound, Alex Frederick pitched 5.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball in two relief appearances during the week.

On the season, the Tigers sport an 18-6 overall record, including a 15-2 home record, 2-3 road mark, and 1-1 neutral-site record. The Tigers, who are 7-2 in the ACC, sit atop the ACC Atlantic Division standings by one game, ahead of second-place Florida State (6-3). Georgia Tech leads the overall ACC standings with an 8-1 record.

Clemson is hitting .301 with a .494 slugging percentage and .412 on-base percentage thanks to 146 walks against 156 strikeouts in 24 games. The Tigers have also totaled 35 homers, 48 doubles, three triples, 43 steals, and are averaging 8.7 runs per game.

Parker is hitting a team-best .396 with 10 homers, two doubles, 24 RBIs, 33 runs, 20 walks, a .747 slugging percentage, a .509 on-base percentage, and three steals. On Tuesday, Parker moved into 10th place in Clemson history in career home runs with 36. Lamb is hitting .375 with a .688 slugging percentage and .488 on-base percentage in only 32 at-bats, while Chris Epps (10) and Hinson (8) lead the team in steals.

The pitching staff has a 3.72 ERA and .250 opponents’ batting average along with 158 strikeouts against 83 walks in 215.1 innings pitched on the season.

The starting weekend rotation of Casey Harman, Lamb, and Weismann have combined for a 10-1 record. In a combined 99.0 innings pitched, they have a 2.45 ERA and have allowed just 79 hits and 30 walks against 65 strikeouts. Haselden, Jonathan Meyer, and Frederick all have two saves apiece.

Clemson will return to action on Wednesday when it hosts Coastal Carolina at 6:30 PM. Then over the weekend, the Tigers will host Boston College in a three-game series.