Tigers Look To Get Back On Track vs. Coastal Carolina

April 9, 2001

Reserved Tickets Remain On Sale For GT and USC

CLEMSON, SC – The #17 Clemson baseball team returns home to Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday to begin a two-game series against Coastal Carolaina. The Tigers have played 13 of their last 17 games on the road, but Tuesday’s game will begin a span of 14 out of 15 home games for Clemson.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Paul Harrelson will throw out the first pitch Tuesday night at 7:15 PM in a game that will be broadcast on WGOG-FM (96.3) in Walhalla. Clemson coach Jack Leggett has not named a starter for Wednesday’s 3:00 PM game. The Tigers will face Coastal Carolina’s Scott Sturkie (5-4, 4.23 ERA) on Tuesday and Brad Schuka (2-0, 6.68 ERA) on Wednesday.

Clemson enters the series with a 21-12 overall record and has lost four consecutive games. That is the longest losing skid for the Tigers since they lost five straight games in 1998. That streak is the longest by a Leggett-coached Clemson team. The Tigers lost 8-4 last week against Winthrop and were swept over the weekend by Florida State in Tallahassee. The last time Clemson was swept in Tallahassee was 1995. Coincidentally, both teams advanced to the College World Series. The same can be said of last year’s sweep of FSU by Clemson when both teams also advanced to Omaha.

Coastal Carolina enters the series with a 19-13 record, but haven’t played since April 4 when it lost to 20th-ranked East Carolina, 7-6.

Sophomore third baseman Jeff Baker is the top Clemson hitter through the first 33 games of the season. He sports a .402 batting average and is tied for the lead in the ACC with 11 home runs after belting two out on Saturday at Florida State. He was 7 for 14 in the four games last week with the pair of home runs and a double. He knocked in four runs and scored three himself.

Sophomore first baseman Michael Johnson and senior left fielder Casey Stone continue to bat better than .350. Johnson is second on the team with a .379 batting average and is tied for second on the team with sophomore Jarrod Schmidt with eight home runs. Stone is third on the team with a .360 batting average and is tied for the most doubles on the team with Johnson and outfielder Kyle Frank. Stone also has the team lead with 17 stolen bases (on 21 attempts).

For the Chaticleers, Chad Pelty is the team leader with a .441 batting average. He has 11 doubles, four home runs and has 22 RBIs this season.