Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrapup

March 26, 2007

(Week of March 19 – March 25, 2007)

Clemson University Overall Season Record: 15-7 ACC Regular-Season Record: 4-2

Last Week: 1-3 Tue. L away vs. Western Carolina, 3-6 Fri. L away vs. Maryland, 3-4 Sat. L away vs. Maryland, 1-4 Sun. W away vs. Maryland, 5-0

Next Week Tue. Home vs. Gardner-Webb, 7:15 PM Wed. Home vs. Western Carolina, 7:15 PM Fri. Home vs. Miami (FL), 7:15 PM Sat. Home vs. Miami (FL), 7:00 PM Sun. Home vs. Miami (FL), 1:00 PM

Notes Clemson went 1-3 in four games this past week, including falling at Western Carolina 6-3 on Tuesday. Then in College Park, MD over the weekend, Maryland won two of three games.

Western Carolina scored five runs in the sixth inning to defeat #6 Clemson 6-3 at Hennon Stadium on March 20. D.J. Mitchell’s first career homer, a two-run shot in the third inning, gave Clemson a 2-0 lead. With the Tigers leading 3-1, the Catamounts scored five runs on four hits in the sixth inning, highlighted by former Tiger John Ingram’s go-ahead, run-scoring single to right field. All six of the Catamount runs came in the fifth and sixth innings, while they were retired in order in the other six innings. Clemson did not have a leadoff batter reach base all game and left seven runners on base to the Catamounts’ two, as Western Carolina plated six of its nine baserunners in the game. Stephen Clyne’s consecutive-scoreless-inning streak also came to an end at 31.1 innings, just shy of the school record of 32.2.

Maryland won two of three games at Shipley Field from March 23-25 despite Clemson outscoring the Terrapins by a combined score of 9-8 in the series. Clemson hit .238 in the series, including a team-best 4-for-11 performance by Andy D’Alessio. Clemson’s pitching staff had a 2.13 ERA and struck out 30 against nine walks in the series. The Tigers also allowed just two extra-base hits, both doubles.

In game-one, Chad Durakis’ walkoff double in the ninth inning gave Maryland a 4-3 victory over Clemson on March 23. Durakis’ two-bagger was the only extra-base hit of the game, as Maryland outhit Clemson 11-8. The Tigers had scored three runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by Alex Burg’s two-run single up the middle, to tie the score. Terrapin starter Casey Baron pitched 8.0 superb innings, allowing four hits, no runs, and one walk with seven strikeouts, but did not factor in the decision. Clemson reliever Alan Farina struck out eight in 4.0 innings pitched, as four Tiger pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.

In game-two, Maryland scored four runs in the fifth inning en route to a 4-1 win over Clemson on March 24. After scoring a run in the fifth, A.J. Casario hit a potential inning-ending, double-play grounder, but David Bunnell could not field the ball. The Terrapins, who had seven hits (all singles), made Clemson pay with three more runs in the frame. The Tigers, who had four hits, scored a run in the eighth on a double off the top of the fence in left field by Taylor Harbin, but the Tigers were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the game. Ryan Hinson suffered his first career loss despite pitching 6.2 effective innings.

In game-three, Head Coach David Kopp pitched 7.0 innings, allowing six hits, no runs, and no walks with five strikes to earn the win. Three Tiger pitchers combined to face just three batters over the minimum. Clemson scored three runs in the second inning and two more in the sixth inning. The Tigers had 12 hits and 19 baserunners, but stranded 12 on base. Five different Tigers had two hits apiece, while the Terrapins committed four errors.

During the week, the Tigers hit .220 with a .299 on-base percentage. D’Alessio was 5-for-15 in four games. The pitching staff had a 2.97 ERA and struck out 36 against only 10 walks.

On the season, Clemson, who is 15-7 overall and 4-2 in ACC play, is hitting .278 with a .359 on-base percentage. Brad Chalk leads the way with a .429 batting average and .541 on-base percentage. He has also reached base via a hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch in 49 straight games dating back to 2006. Doug Hogan is hitting .366 and is riding a 10-game hitting streak. The pitching staff’s ERA stands at 2.96 with a .232 opponents’ batting average. Clyne has an 0.46 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched over 10 relief appearances. Daniel Moskos has five saves and a 2.70 ERA. Moskos has appeared in 14 of the Tigers’ 22 games this season as well.

Clemson will play host to Gardner-Webb on Tuesday night and Western Carolina on Wednesday night before facing Miami (FL) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium over the weekend. Leggett will not be at Tuesday’s game. He will be in Vermont with his father, who is ill.