Tigers To Play Host To Winthrop Tuesday at 4:00 PM

March 3, 2003

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Clemson will play the first of six games in six days on Tuesday against Winthrop beginning at 4:00 PM. Clemson will play host to College of Charleston (7-5) Wednesday at 4:00 PM, then play host to Chukyo University of Japan in an exhibition matchup Thursday at 4:00 PM. The Tuesday and Wednesday games will be broadcast live on the radio by WCCP (104.9 FM) out of Clemson and can be heard live via the internet at www.clemsontigers.com. Thursday’s game will be broadcast live on the university station, WSBF, 88.1 FM. Live stats will also be available on Clemson’s website for all three games.

Clemson is coming off a 2-1 week, in which it split games against #6 South Carolina and defeated Charleston Southern. Winthrop (8-2), will play host to La Salle this evening before traveling to Tigertown Tuesday. College of Charleston is coached by former Tiger player and assistant coach, and Major Leaguer John Pawlowski. Chukyo arrived in the United States on Friday, and was in attendance to see Clemson’s 8-0 win over South Carolina Saturday. Chukyo will play games at Davidson, Furman, and Wofford before playing at Clemson Thursday. Clemson holds a 14-2 lead over Winthrop, dating back to 1981. The two teams met last season, with Clemson coming away with a 6-4 win on a Jeff Baker walk-off homer, his third of the game, in Tigertown. Winthrop defeated the Tigers 8-4 in 2001 in a game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers hold a 9-0 lead all-time against College of Charleston dating back to 1899. Clemson defeated the Cougars twice last season, 14-6 at Charleston and 12-1 at Clemson. Jack Leggett is 3-1 against Winthrop and 3-0 versus College of Charleston as the Tiger skipper.

Winthrop will start senior lefty Jeremy Plexico (2-0, 2.45 ERA), a one-time South Carolina baseball squad member. He has allowed just eight hits and three walks while striking out 19 in 14.2 innings pitched. Clemson will counter with junior righthander Steven Jackson (0-1, 10.12 ERA). Jackson suffered the loss in his only outing this year at #16 Auburn. Starters for Wednesday’s game have yet to be announced.

The Eagles are hitting .335 as a team (entering this evening’s game versus La Salle) and are led by Daniel Carte, who has three homers and 18 RBIs to go along with a .514 batting average in 10 starts. Mark Schmidt has eight hits in 13 at bats (.615 batting average) as well. The Eagles, who will be playing their first game away from home Tuesday, have stolen 22 bases in 25 attempts, led by Kyle Roberson’s perfect 9-9 mark. The pitching staff has a 2.93 team ERA and is allowing just a .198 batting average.

The Cougars are hitting .315 as a team and are led by Brett Anderson, who is hitting .435 with two homers and 10 RBIs. The Cougars, who are 1-3 in away games, have stolen 31 bases in 36 attempts in their 12 games, led by Brett Gardner’s seven. The pitching staff has a 5.47 ERA and is allowing a .294 batting average on the season.

Clemson is led at the plate by junior shortstop Russell Triplett, who is hitting .333 in six starts. Michael Johnson has three of the team’s five homers and is hitting .316. The Tigers are hitting .258 on the season, but have faced five top-20 teams along with facing Charleston Southern’s Robert Swindle, who allowed just two runs in over seven innings at #1 Florida State this past weekend. Clemson has a 4.68 team ERA has a 3.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season.