Tigers to Play Host to Duke Friday-Sunday

Clemson vs. DukeClemson (13-7, 3-3 ACC) will host Duke (11-10, 2-4 ACC) in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. Game times are 4:00 PM (Friday), 6:30 PM (Saturday), and 1:00 PM (Sunday). All three games will be available live via webcast on TigerCast at ClemsonTigers.com. All three games will also be broadcast live on the radio by Clemson Tiger Sports Network. Live stats will be available at ClemsonTigers.com for all three games as well.

The SeriesClemson and Duke have met 191 times, with the Tigers holding a 124-65-2 lead in the series dating to the 1904 season. Last year at Jack Coombs Field, the Tigers swept the Blue Devils by a combined score of 19-8, which includes wins by scores of 4-1 (11 innings), 11-5, and 4-2. The two last met at Clemson in 2011, when the Tigers swept the three-game series by a combined score of 34-16. Clemson has won six games in a row in the series.

The Tigers hold a 64-24-1 lead over the Blue Devils in games played at Clemson and a 45-6 lead at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson also holds a 98-34-2 advantage in ACC regular-season games. Jack Leggett has a 44-15-1 record against Duke as Clemson’s head coach, including a 23-4 mark at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Starting PitchersIn game-one, Duke will start sophomore lefthander Trent Swart (2-0, 1.45 ERA) on the mound. The Carlsbad, CA native has made five starts for a total of 31.0 innings pitched. He has allowed 23 hits (.209 opponents’ batting average) and eight walks with 31 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with sophomore righty Daniel Gossett (2-1, 1.71 ERA) on Friday. The Lyman, SC native has made five starts for a total of 31.2 innings pitched. He has surrendered 23 hits (.200 opponents’ batting average) and 11 walks with 31 strikeouts.

In game-two, the Blue Devils will start junior righty Drew Van Orden (1-2, 4.21 ERA) on the mound. The Manhattan Beach, CA native has made five starts for a total of 25.2 innings pitched. He has given up 24 hits (.245 opponents’ batting average) and 11 walks with 28 strikeouts.

Clemson will counter with freshman righthander Clate Schmidt (2-0, 3.38 ERA) on Saturday. The Acworth, GA native has made four starts and one relief appearance for a total of 21.1 innings pitched. He has given up 29 hits (.319 opponents’ batting average) and nine walks with 14 strikeouts.

In game-three, Duke will start junior righthander Robert Huber (2-2, 4.63 ERA) on the mound. The Plano, TX native has made four starts and three relief appearances for a total of 23.1 innings pitched. He has yielded 20 hits (.238 opponents’ batting average) and 13 walks with 28 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with senior righty Scott Firth (2-3, 2.48 ERA) on Sunday. The Buffalo Grove, IL native has made five starts for a total of 32.2 innings pitched. He has allowed 32 hits (.256 opponents’ batting average) and seven walks with 20 strikeouts.

The Blue DevilsDuke, led by first-year Head Coach Chris Pollard, enters the series at Clemson with an 11-10 overall record and a 2-4 ACC mark after topping Charlotte 3-0 at home on Wednesday. The Blue Devils, who were swept by Virginia Tech at home last weekend, are 4-3 on opponents’ home fields.

Duke is averaging 4.9 runs per game and hitting .258 with a .385 slugging percentage and .355 on-base percentage thanks to 90 walks and 18 hit-by-pitches against 136 strikeouts. The team has also totaled 38 doubles, seven triples, 12 home runs, and 24 stolen bases in 36 attempts.

Duke is led at the plate by Mike Rosenfeld, who is hitting .344 with seven doubles. Andy Perez is batting .333 with two homers and nine steals, while Matt Berezo is hitting .304. Chris Marconcini has five homers and 17 RBIs, while Jordan Betts has added four long balls and 14 RBIs.

The pitching staff has a 4.26 ERA and .243 opponents’ batting average along with 164 strikeouts against 79 walks in 188.0 innings pitched. Sophomore righthander Andrew Istler has five of the team’s six saves along with a 2.30 ERA and .154 opponents’ batting average in 15.2 innings pitched over 10 relief appearances. Duke, who has allowed 23 steals in 32 attempts, is fielding at a .977 clip as well.

The TigersClemson enters the series against Duke with a 13-7 overall record and 3-3 ACC mark after sweeping Morehead State in a two-game, midweek series at home. The Tigers, who are also coming off one win in three games against #12 Virginia at home over the weekend, are 10-5 at home in 2013.

The Tigers are averaging 5.2 runs per game and hitting .267 with a .360 slugging percentage and .334 on-base percentage thanks to 58 walks and 13 hit-by-pitches against 138 strikeouts. Clemson has also totaled 32 doubles, three triples, eight homers, and 27 stolen bases in 41 attempts.

Garrett Boulware is hitting a team-best .365 with four doubles, one triple, four homers, and 20 RBIs. Steve Wilkerson is hitting .316 with one homer, 14 RBIs, and six stolen bases. Shane Kennedy has two home runs, two triples, and 16 RBIs as well.

The pitching staff has a 2.92 ERA and .254 opponents’ batting average in 182.0 innings pitched. The staff has allowed 60 walks against 139 strikeouts, good for a 2.32 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Junior righty Matt Campbell has four of the team’s six saves. The Tigers are fielding at a .969 clip as well.

Worth Noting

• Clemson is 6-1 after a loss.

Erwin EmergingFreshman Zack Erwin (Duluth, GA) is one of only three lefthanders on the 2013 team and has been one of the team’s top relievers for Associate Head Coach Dan Pepicelli’s pitching staff. In 11.0 innings pitched over eight relief appearances, he is 1-0 with one save, an 0.82 ERA, and a .139 opponents’ batting average. He has given up just five hits, one earned run, and three walks with nine strikeouts.

Erwin earned his first career victory against #12 Virginia on March 16 in Clemson’s dramatic 7-6 walkoff win. He pitched the final 5.0 innings and allowed just one hit, one run, and one walk with three strikeouts.