Clemson Baseball Weekly Wrapup

by TigerNet Staff - Sun May 27 16:47:23 GMT-04:00 2012

CLEMSON BASEBALL WEEKLY WRAPUP

(Week of May 21-27, 2012)

Clemson University

Overall Season Record: 33-26

ACC Regular-Season Record: 16-14

ACC Tournament Record: 1-2

Last Week: 1-2

Thu. L, Neutral* vs. #17 Virginia, 3-2

Fri. W, Neutral* vs. #1 Florida State, 9-7

Sat. L, Neutral* vs. Georgia Tech, 5-1

* - ACC Tournament at Greensboro, NC (NewBridge Bank Park)

Next Week

TBA

Last Week’s Game Notes

Clemson went 1-2 in the ACC Tournament at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, NC from May 24-26. Clemson was outscored 15-12 and batted .206 with four doubles, three homers, and five steals. Jon McGibbonJon McGibbon

So. 1st Base

#12 6-1, 210

Lindenhurst, NY

View Full Profile went 5-for-13 (.385) with two homers, one double, and five RBIs, while Richie ShafferRichie Shaffer

Jr. 3rd Base

#8 6-3, 205

Charlotte, NC

View Full Profile added a double, seven walks, one hit-by-pitch, and a .643 on-base percentage. The Tiger pitching staff had a 4.85 ERA, while Clemson fielded at a .983 clip.

In the Tigers’ first game of the ACC Tournament on May 24, #17 Virginia rallied with two runs in eighth inning for a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Clemson. McGibbon’s solo homer in the sixth inning tied the score, then two Cavalier miscues in the top of the eighth inning allowed the Tigers to take a 2-1 lead. But with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the eighth inning, Virginia used a single, two hit-by-pitches, and two walks to score two runs and take the lead for good. The Tigers put 15 batters on base, but stranded 11 and scored only two runs. Tiger starter Daniel GossettDaniel Gossett

Fr. RH Pitcher

#23 6-0, 160

Lyman, SC

View Full Profile pitched 6.2 strong innings, allowing four hits and one run with six strikeouts.

In the Tigers’ second game of the ACC Tournament on May 25, McGibbon lined a three-run walkoff homer to right-center in the ninth inning to lift Clemson to a 9-7 win over #1 Florida State. The Tigers scored two runs on Spencer KieboomSpencer Kieboom

Jr. Catcher

#22 6-0, 220

Marietta, GA

View Full Profile ’s single in the eighth inning to cut the Seminoles’ lead to 7-6. One-out singles by Phil PohlPhil Pohl

Sr. Catcher

#9 5-11, 215

Cooperstown, NY

View Full Profile and pinch-hitter Mike DunsterMike Dunster

So. Infielder

#10 5-10, 180

Greenwich, CT

View Full Profile set up McGibbon’s dramatic walkoff homer, Clemson’s second in ACC Tournament history and first since 1981. McGibbon went 3-for-5 with a homer, double, four RBIs, and two runs to pace Clemson, who totaled 11 hits. Patrick AndrewsPatrick Andrews

Fr. RH Pitcher

#43 6-2, 205

Hilton Head Island, SC

View Full Profile retired all four batters he faced to earn the win.

In the Tigers’ third game of the ACC Tournament on May 26, starter Jake Davies allowed only two hits and one run in 6.0 innings pitched and added a two-run homer in the first inning to lead Georgia Tech to a 5-1 victory over Clemson. Steve WilkersonSteve Wilkerson

So. 2nd Base

#17 6-1, 185

Roswell, GA

View Full Profile ’s leadoff homer, his first career long ball, in the first inning provided the Tigers’ lone run. Georgia Tech added one run in the second inning and two runs in the third inning, while neither team scored in the final six innings. Scott FirthScott Firth

Jr. RH Pitcher

#20 6-0, 165

Buffalo Grove, IL

View Full Profile pitched 6.1 innings innings in relief, allowing four hits and no earned runs.

2012 Season Notes

Clemson has a 33-26 overall record and finished with a 16-14 ACC regular-season mark. Clemson is 21-14 in home games, 9-9 in away games, and 3-3 in neutral-site contests.

The Tigers will await word on Monday if it is selected to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. There are several factors in Clemson’s favor:

• Clemson has an RPI of #27 and strength of schedule of #6.

• Clemson finished in fifth place (16-14 record) in the ACC overall standings. The ACC is the nation’s top conference according to the RPI.

• Clemson has played 34 of its 59 games (58 percent) against teams in the top 50 of the RPI. The 34 games against the top 50 are tied for second-most in the nation. And that does not include two games against Elon (#51 RPI) and two games against Georgia (#55 RPI). Therefore, Clemson has played 38 of its 59 games (64 percent) against top-55 RPI teams.

• Clemson has 14 wins against top-50 RPI teams. Only 10 other teams in the nation have more top-50 wins. And the 14-win total does not include two wins against Elon (#51 RPI) and one win against Georgia (#55 RPI).

• Clemson is 4-3 against teams ranked in the top five in the nation.

• Clemson won six of its 10 conference series and nine of its 14 weekend series during the regular season. Clemson also won six of its last eight weekend series in the regular season. Seven of those eight series were against teams in the top 50 of the RPI.

• Clemson has been very competitive all season. Clemson has lost 24 of its 26 games by four runs or less. The other two losses were by five runs and seven runs.

• Clemson defeated #1 Florida State twice in three games at Clemson in May, then the Tigers defeated #1 Florida State again in its only meeting in the ACC Tournament. Therefore, Clemson defeated the top-ranked Seminoles three times in four games in 2012. Clemson also defeated #7 Miami (FL) twice in three games from March to April, then the Tigers beat Georgia Tech (#24 in RPI) twice in three games in Atlanta.

• Clemson was the only team in the nation to win a weekend series over Florida State during the regular season.

• In April, Clemson lost its Friday starter ( Kevin BradyKevin Brady

RS Jr. RH Pitcher

#19 6-3, 220

Gaithersburg, MS

View Full Profile ) to injury. He missed 21 days of action, but is expected to be at full strength in the postseason. Brady has a 2.52 ERA and .226 opponents’ batting average this season. Also in April, Clemson also lost its top reliever ( Matt CampbellMatt Campbell

So. RH Pitcher

#36 5-11, 185

Alpharetta, GA

View Full Profile ) for the rest of the season due to injury. Campbell had a 2.49 ERA, two saves, and a .211 opponents’ batting average this season.

Note: All RPI references according to WarrenNolan.com; as of May 27 at 2:45 PM EDT.

The Tigers, who are averaging 5.7 runs per game, are hitting .269 with a .387 slugging percentage and .359 on-base percentage thanks to 252 walks and 49 hit-by-pitches in 2012. The team has also totaled 92 doubles, 15 triples, 40 homers, and 63 stolen bases. The Tigers have cumulatively outscored their opposition in all nine innings, except the first inning (tied 32-32), and in extra innings in 2012. Clemson is fielding at a .974 clip, the best mark in school history.

Richie Shaffer leads the team with a .339 batting average, 19 doubles, two triples, 10 homers, 46 RBIs, 45 runs, 58 walks, a .479 on-base percentage, and eight steals. Steve Wilkerson is batting .308 with 30 RBIs and a team-high 47 runs, while Thomas BrittleThomas Brittle

RS Jr. Outfielder

#4 5-8, 170

Cross, SC

View Full Profile is hitting .303 with eight doubles, eight triples, two homers, and 33 RBIs. Phil Pohl has added eight homers and a team-high 50 RBIs as well.

The pitching staff has a 3.94 ERA and .269 opponents’ batting average in 537.0 innings pitched this season. It has allowed 552 hits and 228 walks with 434 strikeouts, good for a 1.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Brady leads the rotation with a 2.52 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched over 11 starts and two relief appearances. Brady, who had missed the previous 21 days due to injury, has made those two relief outings within the last two weekends.

Kevin PohleKevin Pohle

So. RH Pitcher

#21 6-3, 180

St. Louis, MO

View Full Profile is 6-4 with a 3.66 ERA, while Dominic LeoneDominic Leone

Jr. RH Pitcher

#6 5-11, 195

Norwich, CT

View Full Profile and Daniel Gossett join Pohle for the team lead with six wins apiece. Scott Firth has a 4-0 record, 1.99 ERA, and two saves in 49.2 innings pitched over 22 relief outings.

Clemson will await word from the NCAA Baseball Committee on the 64-team field, which will be announced on Monday at 12:00 PM on ESPNU.