Clemson to Tangle With Titans on Tuesday in CWS Elimination Game

June 19, 2006

Series Notes vs. Cal State Fullerton

Clemson (53-15) and Cal State Fullerton (49-14) will play an elimination game on Tuesday at 4:00 PM CDT on ESPN2 in the College World Series. The two have never met on the diamond. The Titans are one of eight teams in the Big West Conference. The Tigers are 5-2 all-time against current Big West teams. In 2005, Clemson swept an early-season, three-game series against UC Irvine at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers have also split two games apiece against Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge.

Clemson’s media guide mistakenly lists that the Clemson and Cal State Fullerton have previous met, but it was Cal State Los Angeles that played the Tigers in 1977, not Cal State Fullerton.

Berken Gets the Start

Junior righthander Jason Berken (De Pere, WI) will take the mound in the top of the first inning against #2 Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday. The fourth-year Tiger is 9-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 starts (80.2 innings pitched). He has allowed 79 hits (only 15 for extra bases) and 34 walks with 75 strikeouts.

Non-Shutout Streak Ends at 130

Clemson’s streak of scoring at least one run in a game ended at 130 games when #5 North Carolina shut out the #2 Tigers 2-0 on Sunday in the College World Series. In the third game of 2005, East Carolina beat Clemson 10-0 in a tournament at Myrtle Beach, SC on February 20. The Tigers went their last 63 games of 2005 without being shut out. Then Clemson scored at least one run in each of its first 67 games of 2006.

53 Wins

Clemson has a 53-15 record on the season. The 53 wins are the most in a season by Clemson since it went 54-17 in 2002. The 53 wins are also the seventh-most in a season in school history. Only twice has a Tiger team won more than 54 games as well.

One Hitting Streak Ends, One Continues

Tyler Colvin’s 26-game hitting streak came to an end on Sunday against #5 North Carolina, as he was 0-for-4 in the Tar Heels’ 2-0 victory. It was the fourth-longest hitting streak in school history, and Clemson was 25-1 in those 26 games. He also hit .435 with seven doubles, two triples, six homers, and 36 RBIs during the streak.

With a single against North Carolina, Brad Chalk upped his hitting streak to 15 games. Chalk has also hit safely in 25 of his last 26 games. In the game he was hitless, he reached base via a walk, therefore has reached base via a hit or walk in 26 straight games.

California Natives

Two Tigers on the College World Series roster hail from the state of California. Junior righthander Sean Clark is a native of Los Angeles and attended Chaminade College Prep School. Sophomore lefty and closer Daniel Moskos is from Alta Loma, where he attended Damien High School. The two have two of the three best ERAs on the team.

Worth Noting

– Clemson has won 25 of its last 27 games. – Clemson is 26-8 against top-25 ranked teams this season. The previous school record for top-25 wins in a season was 19. – Clemson has won six games in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. The school record for NCAA Tourney wins in a season is seven, set by the 2002 Tiger team.