Clemson Baseball Preview vs. South Carolina

by CU Athletic Communications - Fri Mar 04 09:46:11 GMT-04:00 2011

Clemson vs. South Carolina

Clemson (6-1), ranked as high as #4 in the country, will face #4 South Carolina (7-0) in a three-game series at three different sites this weekend. Game times are 7:00 PM on Friday at Carolina Stadium in Columbia, 4:00 PM on Saturday at Fluor Field in Greenville, and 2:00 PM on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson. Clemson will be the designated visiting team on Saturday and occupy the third-base dugout.

Saturday’s game will be televised live and available on WMYA (My40) in the Upstate. It was also be carried by the FOX affiliates in Charleston (WTAT), Columbia (WACH), and Myrtle Beach (WFXB). The game will be available live via webcast at ESPN3.com as well.

Sunday’s game will be televised live by CSS. It will also be available live via webcast on TigerCast at ClemsonTigers.com. All three games will 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 South Carolina have met 292 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 167-123-2 lead in the series dating to the 1899 season. South Carolina is Clemson’s most-played rival in history.

In 2010, the Tigers won two of the three games during the regular season, including a 4-3 victory at Clemson on March 5 and a 19-6 win in Columbia on March 7. On March 6 at Fluor Field in Greenville, SC, South Carolina rallied late to defeat the Tigers 7-5. The rivalry moved to the three-game format (with games at each team’s home stadium and a neutral-site game) for the first time in 2010. Then in the 2010 College World Series, the Gamecocks defeated Clemson twice in two games to advance to the Championship Series.

In 2009, Clemson and South Carolina split the four-games series. In 2008, South Carolina won all four matchups. In 2007, South Carolina won the first three meetings before Clemson won the final matchup by a score of 14-5 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. In 2006, the Tigers won three of four meetings, while the two teams split the four-game season series in both 2004 and 2005.

The Gamecocks hold a 75-67-2 lead in the series in Columbia. The Tigers hold a 94-42 lead in the series in games played at Clemson and a 47-25 lead at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The series is tied 6-6 in neutral-site contests.

Jack Leggett, who will turn 57 on Saturday, is 32-32 against South Carolina as Clemson’s head coach, including 16-13 in games played at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Leggett was also 3-8 against the Gamecocks as Western Carolina’s head coach, meaning he is 35-40 all-time against South Carolina.

The Starting Pitchers

In game-one, South Carolina will start junior lefthander Michael Roth (2-0, 2.19 ERA) on the mound. The Greer, SC native has made two starts for a total of 12.1 innings pitched. He has allowed eight hits (.174 opponents’ batting average) and three walks with 15 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with junior righthander Scott Weismann (2-0, 4.50 ERA) on Friday. The Boxborough, MA native has made two starts for a total of 10.0 innings pitched. He has allowed eight hits (.216 opponents’ batting average) and two walks with eight strikeouts.

In game-two, the Gamecocks will send out sophomore lefty Tyler Webb (2-0, 0.00 ERA) on the mound. The Nassawadox, VA native has made two starts for a total of 13.1 innings pitched. He has given up seven hits (.159 opponents’ batting average) and three walks with 11 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with sophomore righty Kevin Brady (2-0, 0.73 ERA) on Saturday. The Gaithersburg, MD native has made two starts for a total of 12.1 innings pitched. He has given up six hits (.140 opponents’ batting average) and one walk with 19 strikeouts.

South Carolina’s starting pitcher for game-three has yet to be determined.

The Tigers will start junior righthander David Haselden (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on Sunday. The Spartanburg, SC native has made two relief appearances and one start for a total of 10.0 innings pitched. He has yielded seven hits (.206 opponents’ batting average) and one walk with five strikeouts.

The Gamecocks

South Carolina, led by 15th-year Head Coach Ray Tanner and ranked as high as #4 in the nation, enters the series against #4 Clemson with a 7-0 overall record after defeating Furman 14-1 on Tuesday night. The Gamecocks, who have played all seven of their games at home in 2011, own a 13-game winning streak dating back to last season. It is the nation’s longest active winning streak.

South Carolina is averaging 8.1 runs per game and hitting .335 with a .537 slugging percentage and .429 on-base percentage. The team has totaled 19 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, and six stolen bases.

Christian Walker is hitting a team-high .538 witih four doubles, two homers, and 12 RBIs. He is the only Gamecock to hit safely in all seven games and has six multi-hit games. Jackie Bradley, Jr. is hitting .423 with four doubles, one triple, two homers, and eight RBIs, while Adrian Morales is batting .381 with one home run and nine RBIs. Senior Scott Wingo, son of former Tiger baseball and football player Billy Wingo, has a .292 batting average along with one homer and two RBIs.

The pitching staff has a 2.00 ERA and .198 opponents’ batting average along with 71 strikeouts against 17 walks in 63.0 innings pitched. Sophomore righthander Matt Price has both of the team’s saves. The Gamecocks are fielding at a .981 clip and have not allowed a stolen base as well.

The Tigers

Clemson, ranked as high as #4 in the nation, enters the series against #4 South Carolina with a 6-1 overall record after defeating Wofford 5-1 at home on Wednesday. The Tigers, who have won five games in a row, have yet to play a game on an opponents’ home field, are 1-0 in neutral-site contests and 5-1 at home this season.

The Tigers are averaging 10.3 runs per game and hitting .356 with a .487 slugging percentage and .481 on-base percentage. Clemson has also totaled 10 doubles, three triples, five homers, and 19 stolen bases in 23 attempts.

Spencer Kieboom is hitting .550 with a team-high 10 doubles. Brad Miller is batting .400 with a .606 on-base percentage and four steals, while Jason Stolz his hitting .389 with three steals. Chris Epps leads the team in homers (2) and stolen bases (5) as well.

The pitching staff has a 2.14 ERA and .203 opponents’ batting average. The staff has allowed 15 walks against 54 strikeouts, good for a 3.60-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Senior righthander Alex Frederick has yet to allow a hit or run in 1.2 innings pitched over two relief appearances. The Tigers, who have allowed just one stolen base in four attempts, are fielding at a .972 clip as well.

Bradley & Price Awards to Be Presented Sunday

After Sunday’s game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Clemson’s MVP of the three-game series will be given the Bob Bradley Award in a ceremony at home plate. Also, South Carolina’s MVP will be given the Tom Price Award. Both Bradley and Price served as Baseball SIDs at their respective schools for decades. Bradley passed away in 2000, while Price passed away in 2008.

The awards have been presented every year since 2001. An outfielder has won the Bob Bradley Award every year since 2007. Chris Epps won the award in 2010.

Tigers 8-1 All-Time at Fluor Field

Fluor Field, the home of the Boston Red Sox A affiliate Greenville Drive since 2006, is modeled after Fenway Park, with identical field dimensions and a “Green Monster.” The Tigers have played nine games at the ballpark since 2007 and are 8-1.

In 2007, Clemson downed Wofford 6-3 in its first-ever game at Fluor Field. In 2008, the Tigers defeated Presbyterian College 12-7 and Furman 11-5. In 2009, Clemson topped Michigan State 15-2 and Furman 8-5. In 2010, Clemson beat the Spartans 10-2, fell to #15 South Carolina 7-5, and defeated Furman 12-1 at Fluor Field.

Earlier this season at Fluor Field, Clemson blanked Michigan State 8-0. Therefore, the Tigers have outscored the opposition 87-32 in their nine games at Fluor Field.

Worth Noting

• The Tiger pitching staff has not allowed an earned run in the last 24 innings.

• Freshmen Dominic Attanasio and Jon McGibbon have combined to go 10-for-13 (.769) at the plate this season.

First-Year Freshmen Making Presence Felt

Clemson’s regular starting lineup in the field features nine players who were members of the 2010 College World Series team. But the Tigers have a plethora of freshmen who are waiting in the wings to provide punch on offense. Six first-year freshmen (Dominic Attanasio, Joe Costigan, Jake Fletcher, Jon McGibbon, Jon Surber, Steve Wilkerson) have combined to go 14-for-24 (.583). McGibbon is 4-for-5 and has reached base safely in seven of his eight plate appearances this season. Attanasio is 6-for-8, Surber and Costigan are both 1-for-2, and Wilkerson is 2-for-5.

Here Comes Kieboom

Sophomore catcher Spencer Kieboom (Marietta, GA) entered the season with high value as a defensive player. He is a big reason the Tigers have allowed only one stolen base in four attempts through seven games this season. But he has also been one of the team’s best hitters early in the season.

Kieboom leads the team with a .550 batting average along with leading the team in hits (11) and RBIs (10). He is also 6-for-9 (.667) with runners in scoring position.

Kieboom was the third-string catcher most of the 2010 season as a freshman, but when he was inserted into the starting lineup during the ACC Tournament, he made the most of his opportunity and became the everyday starter during the rest of the postseason.

Clemson Tames Terriers 5-1

Four Tiger pitchers combined to limit Wofford to one unearned run in #4 Clemson’s 5-1 win at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on March 2. The win was Clemson’s 1,000th all-time victory at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Terriers scored a run in the top of the fourth inning, but Clemson tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth and took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth inning. Freshman Kevin Pohle pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn his first career win, while Jonathan Meyer pitched 1.2 scoreless innings. Brad Miller went 1-for-1 with two RBIs and three walks. Wofford outhit Clemson 8-6, but the Terrier pitching staff issued seven walks and three hit-by-pitches.