Fightin’ Christians Next Up For No. 6 Clemson Tuesday Night

April 17, 2000

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson (31-9) plays its final home game of its 11-game homestand against Elon (26-18) Tuesday at 7:15 PM. Elon has lost nine of its last 12 games after starting the season 23-9. Clemson is ranked as high as #6. The game will not be broadcast on radio.

Elon leads the all-time series 1-0. The only meeting came back in 1920. The game, which was played at Clemson, ended 6-3 in favor of the Fightin’ Christians. The two teams meet again 80 years later.

Elon defeated the current #1 team in the nation, South Carolina, earlier this season by a 7-5 score in Columbia. That was the last time the Gamecocks lost entering this week’s play. Elon has played five straight road games and 13 of 17 on the road as well. Elon went 1-2 at Liberty this past weekend. In the final game of the series, Liberty no-hit the Fightin’ Christians in a seven-inning game.

The Fightin’ Christians, led by fourth-year Head Coach Mike Kennedy, will start righthander Nathan Holcomb on the mound. The 6-8, 220-pound junior has a 6-2 record and 3.31 ERA in 68.0 innings pitched. He has allowed just 55 hits, 23 walks, and a .224 opponent batting average along with four complete games and 57 strikeouts. Four different Elon pitchers have saves. The staff has a 4.34 ERA and .257 opponent batting average.

Clemson will send out freshman righthander Ryan Childs (2-1, 4.94 ERA). In his last start, Childs pitched 6.0 innings against Georgia to get the win. The Gaithersburg, MD native has allowed 27 hits in 27.1 innings this season. Clemson has a 3.03 team ERA along with a .242 opponent batting average.

Sophomore outfielder Whit Bryant leads Elon with a .363 batting average along with 11 doubles and 46 RBIs.. Jim Swenson is hitting .323 with six homers and 36 RBIs. Elon likes to run, as it has stole 81 bases, led by Jason Tuttle’s 19 and Brian Ingram’s 18. Elon also likes to move runners along, as it has 40 sacrifice bunts. Elon is hitting .289 as a team with a .951 fielding percentage.

Clemson is led at the plate by freshman shortstop Jeff Baker, who is hitting .350 with two homers and 36 RBIs. Sophomore third baseman Khalil Greene is hitting .333 with two homers and 30 RBIs. Clemson is hitting .282 as a team with an outstanding .971 fielding percentage.