Clemson Baseball Preview vs. Georgia Tech

by CU Athletic Communications - Thu Apr 28 15:50:14 GMT-04:00 2011

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech

Clemson (27-14, 11-10 ACC), ranked as high as #23 in the nation, will host #9 Georgia Tech (30-12, 17-4 ACC) in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. Game times are 6:30 PM (Friday), 1:00 PM (Saturday), and 1:00 PM (Sunday).

Saturday’s game will be televised live by Regional Sports Network. The Friday and Sunday 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.

Clemson’s Six Seniors to be Recognized on Sunday

Clemson’s six seniors will be recognized prior to Sunday’s game against Georgia Tech on Senior Day at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Jay CoxJay Cox
Outfielder
#48 5-9, 165
Belton, SC
View Full Profile (OF), Chris EppsChris Epps
Outfielder
#26 6-1, 195
Stone Mountain, GA
View Full Profile (OF), Alex FrederickAlex Frederick
RH Pitcher
#39 5-10, 170
Lagrangeville, NY
View Full Profile (RHP), Addison JohnsonAddison Johnson
Outfielder
#18 5-7, 175
Pfafftown, NC
View Full Profile (OF/LHP), Justin SarrattJustin Sarratt
RH Pitcher
#23 5-9, 170
Gaffney, SC
View Full Profile (RHP), and Jeff SchausJeff Schaus
Outfielder
#3 6-1, 205
Naples, FL
View Full Profile (OF) comprise the Tigers’ 2011 senior class.

The Series

Clemson and Georgia Tech have met 202 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 100-99-3 lead in the series dating back to the 1902 season. The two teams have faced each other at least one time every year since 1974.

In 2010 at Atlanta, GA, the Yellow Jackets swept the Tigers by scores of 8-6, 4-3, and 11-3. Then in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC, Clemson topped Georgia Tech 9-3. In 2009 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Yellow Jackets won the series-opener 5-4 before the Tigers won the final two games by scores of 8-5 and 6-3.

The Tigers hold a 43-22-1 lead over the Yellow Jackets in games played at Clemson and a 33-15 lead at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson also holds a 44-40 advantage in ACC regular-season games.

Jack Leggett has a 35-30 record against Georgia Tech as Clemson’s head coach, including a 17-6 mark at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. He was 3-5 against the Yellow Jackets as Western Carolina’s head coach, meaning he is 38-35 all-time against Georgia Tech.

Of Leggett’s 65 games coached against Georgia Tech as Clemson’s skipper, 58 have come against a top-25 Yellow Jacket squad, as he has a 31-27 record in those 58 meetings. Leggett is also 22-19 against a top-10 Georgia Tech team.

The Starting Pitchers

In game-one, Georgia Tech will start junior righthander Mark Pope (9-1, 1.01 ERA) on the mound. The Marietta, GA native has made 10 starts for a total of 80.1 innings pitched. He has allowed 49 hits (.174 opponents’ batting average), including only six extra-base hits, and 12 walks with 67 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with sophomore righty Dominic LeoneDominic Leone
RH Pitcher
#6 5-11, 185
Norwich, CT
View Full Profile (2-1, 3.66 ERA) on Friday. The Norwich, CT native has made six starts and three relief appearances for a total of 32.0 innings pitched. He has allowed 26 hits (.226 opponents’ batting average) and 16 walks with 35 strikeouts.

In game-two, the Yellow Jackets will send out junior lefthander Jed Bradley (4-2, 2.98 ERA) on the mound. The Huntsville, AL native has made 10 starts for a total of 60.1 innings pitched. He has yielded 48 hits (.215 opponents’ batting average), no homers, and 22 walks with 78 strikeouts.

Clemson will counter with sophomore righthander Jonathan MeyerJonathan Meyer
RH Pitcher
#28 6-0, 165
San Diego, CA
View Full Profile (4-0, 2.66 ERA) on Saturday. The San Diego, CA native has made 15 relief appearances and two starts for a total of 44.0 innings pitched. He has surrendered 30 hits (.190 opponents’ batting average) and 12 walks with 46 strikeouts.

In game-three, Georgia Tech will start sophomore righty Buck Farmer (7-1, 3.27 ERA) on the mound. The Conyers, GA native has made 10 starts for a total of 63.1 innings pitched. He has given up 61 hits (.254 opponents’ batting average) and 21 walks with 68 strikeouts.

The Tigers’ starting pitcher for game-three on Sunday has yet to be determined.

The Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech, led by 18th-year Head Coach Danny Hall and ranked as high as #9 in the nation, enters the series at #23 Clemson with a 30-12 overall record and 17-4 ACC mark after falling to Georgia 6-4 at Turner Field in Atlanta, GA on Tuesday night. The Yellow Jackets, who also swept Boston College at home last weekend, sports a 9-5 record on opponents’ home fields in 2011.

Georgia Tech is averaging 7.0 runs per game and hitting .316 with a .460 slugging percentage and .396 on-base percentage thanks to 180 walks and 28 hit-by-pitches against 305 strikeouts. The team has also totaled 99 doubles, 13 triples, 30 home runs, and 46 stolen bases in 59 attempts.

Kyle Wren is hitting a team-high .378 with nine doubles, five triples, one homer, 27 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. Jake Davies is batting .368 with 11 doubles, four homers, and 26 RBIs, while Matt Skole is hitting .364 with 13 doubles, five home runs, and a team-high 43 RBIs. Jacob Esch has added a team-high 18 doubles and Brandon Thomas has a team-high 14 steals.

The pitching staff has a 2.83 ERA and .229 opponents’ batting average along with 382 strikeouts against 136 walks in 378.0 innings pitched. Sophomore righthander Luke Bard has six of the team’s seven saves along with a 3.79 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched over 19 appearances (one start). Georgia Tech is fielding at a .969 clip as well.

The Tigers

Clemson, ranked as high as #23 in the nation, enters the series against #9 Georgia Tech with a 27-14 overall record and 11-10 ACC mark after winning midweek games over Furman (5-0) and Western Carolina (6-4 in eight innings). The Tigers also won two of three games at home over Wake Forest last weekend. Clemson, who has won 13 of its last 15 games, sports a 20-6 home record in 2011.

The Tigers are averaging 7.1 runs per game and hitting .313 with a .447 slugging percentage and .407 on-base percentage thanks to 205 walks and 34 hit-by-pitches against 267 strikeouts. Clemson has also totaled 85 doubles, 13 triples, 25 homers, and 77 stolen bases in 97 attempts.

Brad MillerBrad Miller
Infielder
#13 6-1, 185
Windermere, FL
View Full Profile leads the ACC in batting average (.431) and on-base percentage (.535) along with 31 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Miller is 34-for-63 (.540) with 13 steals in the last 16 games. Phil PohlPhil Pohl
Catcher
#9 5-11, 210
Cooperstown, NY
View Full Profile is batting .365 with 14 doubles, three homers, and 28 RBIs. Will LambWill Lamb
Outfielder
#30 6-6, 175
Seaford, VA
View Full Profile is riding a 16-game hitting streak, while John HinsonJohn Hinson
Infielder
#4 6-1, 180
Asheville, NC
View Full Profile has 18 stolen bases.

The pitching staff has a 3.45 ERA and .237 opponents’ batting average in 362.2 innings pitched. The staff has allowed 125 walks against 316 strikeouts, good for a 2.53 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Senior righty Alex Frederick has a team-high three saves and .208 opponents’ batting average in 18 appearances (one start). The Tigers are fielding at a .968 clip as well.

Attanasio & McGibbon Thriving in a Pinch

Freshmen Dominic AttanasioDominic Attanasio
Outfielder
#1 5-7, 150
Windermere, FL
View Full Profile and Jon McGibbonJon McGibbon
Outfielder
#12 6-1, 210
Lindenhurst, NY
View Full Profile have both totaled less than 60 at-bats due in large part to Clemson’s veteran lineup. But in their limited action, they have both come through when called upon. Attanasio, a speedy outfielder, is 21-for-51 (.412) with two doubles, one triple, one homer, 11 RBIs, 10 runs, and three steals in 26 games (nine starts) in 2011. McGibbon, a power-hitting first-baseman and outfielder, is 16-for-50 (.320) with four doubles, one homer, 11 RBIs, seven runs, and one steal in 31 games (10 starts).

Even with those outstanding batting averages, they have been even better when coming off the bench. Both are 9-for-17 (.529) at the plate in games off the bench. McGibbon is a remarkable 7-for-12 (.583) with a .667 on-base percentage as a pinch-hitter, while Attanasio is 5-for-11 (.455) with a .571 on-base percentage as a pinch-hitter. Therefore, the two are a combined 12-for-23 (.522) as a pinch-hitter in 2011.

Tigers Blank Furman 5-0

Brad Miller went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs to lead #23 Clemson to a 5-0 victory over Furman at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on April 26. Clemson scored two runs in the first inning, then Miller’s three-run homer in the third inning closed out the scoring. Starter Justin Sarratt and three other Tiger pitchers combined for a shutout. Sarratt tossed 6.0 innings, allowing four hits, no runs, and no walks with five strikeouts. The four Clemson hurlers combined to surrender only six hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. They also did not allow a Paladin to advance past second base in the game.

Clemson Tops Catamounts 6-4 in Cullowhee

Brad Miller went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks to lead #23 Clemson to a 6-4 victory in eight innings over Western Carolina at Hennon Stadium on April 27. The game was postponed and later called in the top of the ninth inning due to lightning. Miller’s two-run double sparked the Tigers’ three-run first inning, then Clemson added two runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Catamounts rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth, but David HaseldenDavid Haselden
RH Pitcher
#29 6-4, 240
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Jonathan Meyer struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth inning to record the save. Miller reached base in all five of his plate appearances to lead Clemson’s 13-hit attack. John Hinson added three hits.