Sunday 05/22/2011
May 22, 2011
Clemson University Overall Season Record: 39-17 ACC Regular-Season Record: 17-13
Last Week: 3-1 Tue. W, Home vs. Davidson, 19-0 Thu. L, Away vs. #4 Florida State, 8-6 Fri. W, Away vs. #4 Florida State, 7-4 Sat. W, Away vs. #4 Florida State, 8-5
Next Week Neutral* vs. Georgia Tech (RSN) Neutral* vs. Florida State (RSN) Neutral* vs. N.C. State (RSN) * – ACC Tournament at Durham, NC
Last Week’s Game Notes Clemson, ranked as high as #15 in the nation, went 3-1 in four games this past week. The Tigers routed Davidson 19-0 on Tuesday at home before defeating #4 Florida State twice in three games in Tallahassee over the weekend.
On the week, the Tigers batted .369 with a .584 slugging percentage and .462 on-base percentage along with 40 runs, four doubles, two triples, eight homers (two in each of the four games), and six stolen bases. The Tigers also had a .978 fielding percentage on the week.
Chris Epps led the Tigers at the plate by going 9-for-15 (.600) with five runs, one triple, two homers, five RBIs, a 1.133 slugging percentage, and two walks. Will Lamb was 10-for-20 with a double, homer, six RBIs, six runs, and two steals. Jeff Schaus was 7-for-15 (.467) with a double, four RBIs, and three walks. Richie Shaffer added three homers, five RBIs, and six runs as well.
The Tiger pitching staff had a 3.86 ERA and .237 opponents’ batting average on the week. The staff also allowed only 31 hits and 14 walks with 36 strikeouts in 35.0 innings pitched.
Kevin Brady made his return after missing over 10 weeks of action due to injury. In 3.2 innings pitched over three relief appearances, he allowed three hits, two runs, and no walks with five strikeouts.
Behind 23 hits, Clemson routed Davidson 19-0 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on May 17. The Tigers scored in all eight of their innings in which they batted and tied a school record for batting average (.523) in a game. Lamb went 5-for-5 with a double, three RBIs, and three runs, while Epps was 4-for-6 with a homer, triple, three RBIs, and two runs. Seven Tigers in all had at least two hits in the game, including Shaffer, who belted a three-run homer in the second inning. Five Tiger pitchers combined on a seven-hit shutout. Only two Wildcats advanced past first base and none advanced past second base. Starter Kevin Pohle pitched 5.0 innings to earn the win, while Brady pitched a perfect inning in relief in his return from an arm injury that he suffered on March 6.
Clemson then won two of three games over #4 Florida State by a combined score of 21-17 at Dick Howser Stadium from May 19-21. Clemson outhit the Seminoles .305 to .241 and had a .411 on-base percentage, six homers, 19 walks, and four steals. Epps went 5-for-9 with a homer, while Brad Miller went 5-for-11 with a homer and double. Shaffer added two home runs in the series. The Tiger pitching staff had a 5.19 ERA and 25 strikeouts against 12 walks in 25.0 innings pitched. Scott Weismann pitched 2.1 hitless and scoreless innings with two saves.
In game-one on May 19, Florida State scored in five of the first six innings and outlasted Clemson 8-6. After Miller’s solo homer in the first, the Seminoles scored six combined runs in the first four innings to take a 6-1 lead. But the Tigers battled back to cut the Seminole lead to 8-6 in the eighth inning before Florida State worked out of a bases-loaded jam. Sean Gilmartin pitched 7.0 effective innings to earn the win, while Daniel Bennett pitched the final 1.1 innings to record the save. Shaffer added a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Tigers, who outhit the Seminoles 10-9.
In game-two on May 20, Clemson built a 7-0 lead after five innings and held on for a 7-4 win over Florida State. The Tigers scored four runs in the third inning and added two runs in the fifth inning on Lamb’s two-run homer. The Seminoles chipped away with two runs in the sixth inning and two runs in the eighth. But Weismann closed the door and picked up the save. Starter Justin Sarratt earned the win by tossing 5.1 effective innings. Miller, Lamb, and Schaus had three hits apiece to lead Clemson, who outhit Florida State 13-7 and drew eight walks. Schaus registered his 300th career hit in the game as well.
In game-three on May 21, Clemson jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held on for an 8-5 win over Florida State. Highlighted by a solo homer by Shaffer, the Tigers scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead. James Ramsey’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning and two Seminole runs in the eighth inning narrowed Clemson’s lead to 6-5. But John Hinson’s solo homer in the ninth inning helped the Tigers to the three-run win. Schaus had a team-high two hits for the Tigers, who outhit the Seminoles 9-8. Haselden pitched 2.2 hitless and scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, while Weismann retired all three batters he faced to record the save.
2011 Season Notes Clemson has a 39-17 overall record and 17-13 ACC regular-season mark on the season. Ten of Clemson’s 17 losses have been by two runs or less, including eight one-run losses. Clemson, who is 26-7 in home games, 11-8 in away games, and 2-2 in neutral-site contests, is #9 in the unofficial RPI by WarrenNolan.com.
The Tigers, who have won 25 of their last 30 overall games, finished in second place in the ACC Atlantic Division standings behind first-place Florida State, who was 19-11 in the ACC. Clemson, who has won seven weekend series in a row, finished in sixth place in the overall ACC standings.
During the weekend of the ACC Tournament, the Tigers will await word to see if they will host an NCAA Regional. There are several factors in Clemson’s favor:
The Tigers are hitting .320 with a .455 slugging percentage and .408 on-base percentage thanks to 269 walks and 42 hit-by-pitches in 2011. The team has also totaled 110 doubles, 16 triples, 39 homers, and 98 stolen bases along with hitting .341 with runners in scoring position on the season. Clemson is fielding at a .969 clip as well.
Brad Miller leads the ACC in batting average (.431) by 61 points and on-base percentage (.536) by 70 points along with totaling 11 doubles, three triples, four homers, 44 RBIs, 49 runs, 37 walks, and a team-tying-high 21 stolen bases in 49 games (47 starts). In the last 31 games, he is 56-for-114 (.491) with 36 RBIs.
Will Lamb is batting .343 and has hit safely in 41 of his last 44 games. Jeff Schaus is batting .322 with 17 doubles and 40 RBIs, while Richie Shaffer has added 10 homers and 45 RBIs.
The pitching staff has a 3.12 ERA and .228 opponents’ batting average in 495.2 innings pitched this season. It has allowed 419 hits and 164 walks with 441 strikeouts, good for a 2.69 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Justin Sarratt leads the team with a 2.06 ERA along with a team-high seven wins. In 70.0 innings pitched over 16 appearances (11 starts), the graduate student has a 7-1 record and has allowed 58 hits (.221 opponents’ batting average) and 10 walks against 60 strikeouts. The Tigers have an 11-0 record in his 11 starts in 2011.
David Haselden is 5-1 with two saves, a 2.19 ERA, and 45 strikeouts against 13 walks in 65.1 innings pitched over 21 appearances (four starts). Jonathan Meyer is 5-2 with one save, a 3.11 ERA, and .217 opponents’ batting average. Dominic Leone is 5-2 with a 3.67 ERA and .207 opponents’ batting average.
Scott Weismann continues to impress in his new role of closer. In his last 11 relief appearances, he has pitched 12.0 innings. He has six saves and has allowed three hits (all singles), no runs, and one walk with 19 strikeouts during that span.
Clemson will travel to Durham, NC to play in the ACC Tournament at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Tigers will be the #6 seed and face Georgia Tech, Florida State, and N.C. State in its bracket. The dates and times of those games will be announced by the ACC Office on Sunday.
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