Top-Ranked Tigers to Play Western Carolina in Cullowhee Wednesday

May 14, 2002

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Clemson, SC –

Number-one ranked Clemson (43-9) will travel to Cullowhee, NC to take on Western Carolina (31-18) Wednesday at Childress Field and Hennon Stadium. Game time is 3:30 PM, which was changed from the original start time of 3:00 PM. The game will be broadcast solely by WCCP-FM, 104.9 out of Clemson. The radio broadcast can be heard live via the internet at www.clemsontigers.com. Live stats will also be available on Clemson’s website.

Clemson leads the series with Western Carolina 42-8 in the series dating back to 1974. Head Coach L.J. DeMaino with three hits. Khalil Greene and Jeff Baker added homers, while Michael Johnson had two long balls. The Tigers and Catamounts were rained out in last year’s game in Cullowhee. The Tigers downed Western Carolina 13-4 in a game played at Asheville, NC in 2000 and lost 9-8 in 10 innings in 1999 in Cullowhee, the Tigers last trip to the Catamount campus.

Clemson will start sophomore righty Steven Jackson on the mound. Jackson, who is 6-1 with a 5.19 ERA, started the first Western Carolina game on April 16. He allowed seven runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings pitched in a no decision. Clemson has a 3.86 team ERA and .253 opponents’ batting average. Western Carolina’s starter has yet to be determined. The Catamounts have a 4.68 team ERA entering a makeup game at Winthrop Tuesday.

Clemson, who is 12-4 on opponents’ home fields this season, is led at the plate by Khalil Greene, who is riding an 18-game hitting streak and is hitting .483. Jeff Baker also has 19 homers and 53 career long balls, the latter tying the Clemson record. Clemson is hitting .335 and has a .972 fielding percentage.

Entering this week’s action, the Catamounts are hitting .342 as a team, led by Donovan Minero at .396 with 15 homers and 62 RBIs. Alan Beck also has 10 homers and 55 RBIs, while Ryan Schade is hitting .394. The Catamounts, who are 20-5 at home this season, have a .955 fielding percentage as well.