Clemson Baseball Preview vs. Virginia

by CU Athletic Communications - Fri Mar 15 11:09:48 GMT-04:00 2013

Clemson vs. Virginia

Clemson (10-5, 2-1 ACC) will host #12 Virginia (15-1, 2-1 ACC) in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. Game times are 6:30 PM (Friday), 6:30 PM (Saturday), and 1:00 PM (Sunday).

All three games will be available live via webcast on ESPN3. 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 Series

Clemson and Virginia have met 150 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 102-48 lead in the series dating to the 1955 season. Last year at UVa Baseball Stadium, the Cavaliers swept the Tigers by a combined score of 16-7. Virginia also downed Clemson 3-2 in the 2012 ACC Tournament at Greensboro, NC.

The two teams last met at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in 2011, when the Cavaliers swept the three-game series by a combined score of 20-13. Virginia has won eight games in a row and 18 of the last 20 games in the series after the Tigers won 100 of the first 130 matchups.

The Tigers hold a 52-13 lead in games played at Clemson and a 40-11 lead at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson also holds a 92-40 advantage in ACC regular-season games.

Jack Leggett has a 31-28 record against Virginia as Clemson’s head coach, including a 16-8 mark at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Leggett was 2-0 against Virginia as head coach at Vermont, meaning he is 33-28 all-time against the Cavaliers.

The Starting Pitchers

In game-one, Virginia will start freshman lefthander Brandon Waddell (2-0, 1.59 ERA) on the mound. The Houston, TX native has made four starts for a total of 22.2 innings pitched. He has allowed 22 hits (.239 opponents’ batting average) and six walks with 33 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with sophomore righty Daniel GossettDaniel Gossett
So. RH Pitcher
#23 6-0, 180
Lyman, SC
View Full Profile (2-1, 1.46 ERA) on Friday. The Lyman, SC native has made four starts for a total of 24.2 innings pitched. He has surrendered 18 hits (.200 opponents’ batting average) and 11 walks with 25 strikeouts.

In game-two, the Cavaliers will start senior lefty Scott Silverstein (3-0, 1.85 ERA) on the mound. The Olney, MD native has made four starts for a total of 24.1 innings pitched. He has given up 22 hits (.247 opponents’ batting average) and seven walks with 14 strikeouts.

Clemson will counter with freshman righthander Clate SchmidtClate Schmidt
Fr. RH Pitcher
#32 6-1, 190
Acworth, GA
View Full Profile (2-0, 1.56 ERA) on Saturday. The Acworth, GA native has made three starts and one relief appearance for a total of 17.1 innings pitched. He has given up 21 hits (.288 opponents’ batting average) and six walks with 13 strikeouts.

In game-three, Virginia will start sophomore righthander Nick Howard (2-1, 0.81 ERA) on the mound. The Olney, MD native has made four starts for a total of 22.1 innings pitched. He has yielded 20 hits (.235 opponents’ batting average) and one walk with 22 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with senior righty Scott FirthScott Firth
Sr. RH Pitcher
#20 6-0, 175
Buffalo Grove, IL
View Full Profile (2-2, 0.98 ERA) on Sunday. The Buffalo Grove, IL native has made four starts for a total of 27.2 innings pitched. He has allowed 23 hits (.230 opponents’ batting average) and five walks with 15 strikeouts.

The Cavaliers

Virginia, led by 10th-year Head Coach Brian O’Connor and ranked as high as #12 in the nation, enters the series at Clemson with a 15-1 overall record and 2-1 ACC mark after defeating Liberty 7-2 at home on Wednesday. The Cavaliers are also coming off two wins in three games over Maryland at home last weekend. Virginia is 2-0 on opponents’ home fields in 2013.

Virginia is averaging 8.8 runs per game and hitting .313 with a .487 slugging percentage and .434 on-base percentage thanks to 97 walks and 27 hit-by-pitches against 70 strikeouts. The team has also totaled 28 doubles, 16 triples, 11 home runs, and 22 stolen bases in 29 attempts.

Virginia is led at the plate by Branden Cogswell, who is hitting .392 with 24 runs and 20 walks against only three strikeouts. Nick Howard is batting .354, while Brandon Downes is hitting .338 with four doubles, four triples, three homers, and 18 RBIs. Kenny Towns is hitting .286 with three home runs and a team-high 22 RBIs as well.

The pitching staff has a 1.88 ERA and .228 opponents’ batting average along with 139 strikeouts against 36 walks in 144.0 innings pitched. Freshman righthander Josh Sborz has two of the team’s three saves and has 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched. Virginia, who has allowed six steals in eight attempts, is fielding at a .962 clip as well.

The Tigers

Clemson enters the series against #12 Virginia with a 10-5 overall record and 2-1 ACC mark after defeating Charleston Southern 3-1 at home on Wednesday. The Tigers are also coming off two wins in three games at #8 N.C. State last weekend. Clemson has a 7-3 record at home in 2013.

The Tigers are averaging 4.8 runs per game and hitting .248 with a .332 slugging percentage and .325 on-base percentage thanks to 46 walks and 11 hit-by-pitches against 103 strikeouts. Clemson has also totaled 24 doubles, one triple, five homers, and 24 stolen bases in 33 attempts.

Garrett BoulwareGarrett Boulware
So. Catcher
#30 6-1, 210
Anderson, SC
View Full Profile is hitting a team-best .333 with four doubles, two homers, and 11 RBIs. Steve WilkersonSteve Wilkerson
Jr. 2nd Base
#17 6-1, 195
Roswell, GA
View Full Profile is hitting .293 with one homer, 11 RBIs, and six stolen bases. Shane KennedyShane Kennedy
Jr.
#11 6-2, 190
Orlando, FL
View Full Profile has one home run and a team-high 12 RBIs as well.

The pitching staff has a 2.20 ERA and .238 opponents’ batting average in 135.0 innings pitched. The staff has allowed 45 walks against 104 strikeouts, good for a 2.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Junior righty Matt CampbellMatt Campbell
Jr. RH Pitcher
#36 5-11, 195
Alpharetta, GA
View Full Profile has four of the team’s five saves. The Tigers are fielding at a .969 clip as well.

Campbell Closing

Junior righthander Matt Campbell (Alpharetta, GA) was having an outstanding 2012 campaign before suffering a season-ending arm injury at Georgia Tech on April 27. He has fully recovered from that injury and has served as Clemson’s closer in 2013, where he is 0-1 with a team-high four saves, a 1.59 ERA, and .222 opponents’ batting average in six relief appearances. He also has seven strikeouts against only two walks in 5.2 innings pitched this season.

In his three-year career, the hard-thrower is 2-3 with eight saves, a 2.65 ERA, and .188 opponents’ batting average in 54.1 innings pitched over 35 relief appearances. He has also totaled 61 strikeouts, good for a 10.10 strikeout-per-nine-innings-pitched mark.