Clemson To Host Regional for Ninth Time

May 27, 2002

Ticket InformationAP Selection Story

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson has been selected to serve as host to one of 16 regional sites for the 2002 NCAA Tournament May 31-June 2, the NCAA announced on Monday. Clemson is the #1 seed in the regional and will face #4 seed Georgia Southern Friday night at 7:00 PM. East Carolina, the #2 seed, and #3 seed Elon will open the regional Friday at 2:00 PM. The winner of the Clemson regional will face the winner of the Wichita State regional.

Clemson has also played host to the NCAA Tournament in 1980, 1981, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001 and has advanced to the College World Series four of those eight times. Last year, Clemson compiled a perfect 3-0 record as regional host to top seed South Alabama, #3 seed William & Mary and #4 Seton Hall to advance to its third straight Super Regional. Monday’s selection as a host assures that Clemson will make its 16th straight NCAA tournament appearance, the second longest active streak in the country behind Florida State’s 25 in a row, and its 28th appearance overall. The Tigers are 73-59 alltime in the NCAA Tournament and 28-17 under Head Coach Jack Leggett.

Georgia Southern and Elon have each already made visits to Clemson this season. Clemson defeated Georgia Southern 20-8 on March 12 and 9-2 on March 23, while Elon left Tiger Town with an 8-6 win on May 9. The Tigers are 31-8 at home this season and 22-6 in NCAA Tournament games played at Clemson.

Clemson, 47-14 overall and 16-8 in the ACC, is coming off a runner-up finish at the ACC Tournament and is the national #2 seed. Khalil Greene leads the team with a .475 batting average and is currently on a 27-game hitting streak. Steve Reba leads the pitching staff with a 12-2 record while compiling a 3.83 ERA.

East Carolina is 41-18-1 overall, 16-13-1 in Conference USA, and is fresh off a 4-0 victory over Houston in the Conference USA Tournament championship game. Darryl Lawhorn leads the team with a .419 batting average, 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. Sam Narron leads all pitchers with a 2.81 ERA and has an 8-3 record.

Elon is 33-19 overall, 13-8 in the Big South, and lost its only two games in the Big South Tournament. The Phoenix has defeated top-ranked Clemson, #10 Wake Forest and #20 East Carolina this season. Whit Bryant leads the offense with a .385 batting average while Jim Swenson has 12 home runs and 55 RBIs. Matt Garner is the ace of the staff with a 7-1 record an 2.69 ERA.

Georgia Southern is 38-23 overall, including 18-11 in the Southern Conference. The Eagles came out of the losers’ bracket to defeat College of Charleston twice and win the Southern Conference Tournament. Matt Herring leads paces the squad with a .376 batting average, 14 home runs and 77 RBIs. Dennis Dove is 7-3 with a 2.99 ERA to lead the pitching staff.