Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrapup

April 22, 2007

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 26-13 ACC Regular-Season Record: 11-7

Last Week: 1-3

Next Week

Notes Clemson went 1-3 in four games last week, all four of which were against top-six ranked teams. Clemson was outscored 13-7 on the week, as the Tigers lost 4-2 at #4 South Carolina on Wednesday, then lost two of three games against #6 Virginia at home over the weekend.

Four Gamecocks hit solo home runs to lead #4 South Carolina to a 4-2 victory over #13 Clemson at Sarge Frye Field on April 18. After hitting a solo homer in the first, the Gamecocks added three more solo homers in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Andy D’Alessio’s RBI groundout in the fourth inning put the Tigers on the scoreboard, but both teams were scoreless until the ninth inning. D’Alessio’s two-out, solo homer in the ninth cut South Carolina’s lead to two runs, but the Tigers could get no closer. Each team had six hits and did not commit an error. Matt Vaughn pitched 4.2 solid innings in relief, allowing just one run on three hits.

Virginia, ranked #6 in the nation, won two of three games over #13 Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium from April 20-22. Virginia, who totaled 13 steals, outscored the Tigers 9-5, but Clemson outhit the Cavaliers .209 to .202 in the series. The Tigers were just 4-for-36 (.111) with runners on base and 2-for-19 (.105) with runners in scoring position in the series as well. D’Alessio was 4-for-10 with a homer and three RBIs to lead Clemson. The Tigers had a 1.33 ERA, allowing just 20 hits and four earned runs with 28 strikeouts in 27.0 innings pitched. The three Tiger starting pitchers combined to allow just one earned run in 17.0 innings pitched as well.

In game-one on April 20, Jacob Thompson limited Clemson to three runs on six hits in 8.0 innings pitched to lead Virginia to a 5-3 win. Thompson allowed just one walk with six strikeouts to improve to 9-0 on the season. Only one of the five runs allowed by three Tiger pitchers were unearned, as Virginia scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning. Clemson pitchers fanned 14 Cavaliers as well. D’Alessio’s two-run homer in the sixth inning cut Virginia’s lead to a run. The Tigers had the potential tying run on second base in the ninth inning before Alex Lee struck out to end the game. Virginia outhit the Tigers 11-7 and left 13 runners on base. The Cavaliers also stole nine bases in nine attempts.

In game-two on April 21, three Cavaliers combined on a four-hit shutout, as Virginia blanked Clemson 3-0. Matt Packer, Michael Schwimer, and Casey Lambert combined to allow four hits and six walks, but stranded all 11 Tiger baserunners to notch the shutout. Clemson had the bases loaded in the ninth inning before D.J. Mitchell struck out to end the game. Virginia scored an unearned run in the eighth inning and two insurance runs in the ninth. Taylor Harbin had a team-high two hits and a double, but Clemson was 0-for-10 with runners on base and did not have a leadoff batter reach base in an inning. Starter David Kopp pitched 7.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball with five strikeouts.

In game-three on April 22, Alan Farina pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits to pick up his first save as a Tiger. Clemson scored a run in the first on D’Alessio’s run-scoring single. After Brandon Guyer robbed D’Alessio of extra bases and started a double play with a diving catch in left field in the eighth, Marquez Smith blasted a two-out, solo homer to up Clemson’s lead to 2-0. Virginia scored a run in the ninth before Brandon Marsh grounded into a game-ending double play. Clemson outhit Virginia 8-3, while the Cavaliers stranded 10 runners on base.

During the week, the Tigers hit .203 with a .277 on-base percentage. The team was hampered by going just 2-for-26 (.077) with runners in scoring position on the week. The pitching staff allowed 13 runs, both only eight were earned, therefore had a 2.06 ERA and .203 opponents’ batting average. The staff also combined for 33 strikeouts in 35.0 innings pitched.

D’Alessio led the way at the plate, as he was 6-for-14 (.429) with a double, two homers, and five RBIs in four games.

Along with the outstanding starting pitching in the weekend series, Farina made three relief appearances, allowing just three hits and one run with six strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.

On the season, Clemson, who is 26-13 overall and 11-7 in ACC play, is hitting .281 with a .364 on-base percentage. Chalk is hitting .405 with a .532 on-base percentage. D’Alessio has raised his season average to .303. Smith has seven homers and 29 RBIs as well.

The pitching staff has a 3.22 ERA and .244 opponents’ batting average on the season. In ACC games, the staff has a 2.98 ERA. Overall, the staff has 333 strikeouts against 116 walks. Hinson is 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched, while Kopp is 4-2 with a 3.32 ERA. Daniel Moskos is 3-3 with a 2.29 ERA as well.

Perhaps the team’s best pitcher of late has been Farina. In his last six outings, he has a 1.02 ERA and a save. In 17.2 innings pitched, he has allowed just five singles (.089 opponents’ batting average), two runs, and seven walks with 21 strikeouts.

Clemson will play five games at home next week prior to exam week. The Tigers will face Elon on Tuesday and South Carolina on Wednesday in the last of four regular-season meetings. Then over the weekend, the Tigers will take on Georgia Tech.