Tigers to Open ACC Play on the Road

by CU Athletic Communications - Thu Mar 07 11:07:19 GMT-04:00 2013

Clemson vs. N.C. State

Clemson (7-4, 0-0 ACC) will travel to Raleigh, NC to take on #8 N.C. State (11-2, 0-0 ACC) in a three-game series at Doak Field this weekend. Game times are 3:00 PM (Friday), 4:00 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. However, Saturday's game will be broadcast on the radio by CTSN only after the Clemson men's basketball game (2:30 PM start) broadcast is complete. Live stats will be available at ClemsonTigers.com for all three games as well.

The Starting Pitchers

In game-one, N.C. State will start sophomore lefthander Carlos Rodon (1-1, 2.70 ERA) on the mound. The Holly Springs, NC native has made three starts for a total of 20.0 innings pitched. He has allowed seven hits (.104 opponents' batting average) and five walks with 38 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with sophomore righty Daniel GossettDaniel Gossett
So. RH Pitcher
#23 6-0, 180
Lyman, SC
View Full Profile (1-1, 1.00 ERA) on Friday. The Lyman, SC native has made three starts for a total of 18.0 innings pitched. He has surrendered 13 hits (.197 opponents' batting average) and seven walks with 16 strikeouts.

In game-two, the Wolfpack will start senior righty Ethan Ogburn (1-0, 1.00 ERA) on the mound. The High Point, NC native has made one start and one relief appearance for a total of 9.0 innings pitched. He has given up three hits (.103 opponents' batting average) and five walks with eight strikeouts.

Clemson will counter with freshman righthander Clate SchmidtClate Schmidt
Fr. RH Pitcher
#32 6-1, 190
Acworth, GA
View Full Profile (2-0, 1.32 ERA) on Saturday. The Acworth, GA native has made two starts and one relief appearance for a total of 13.2 innings pitched. He has given up 13 hits (.245 opponents' batting average) and four walks with 10 strikeouts.

In game-three, N.C. State will start freshman lefthander Brad Stone (1-0, 6.75 ERA) on the mound. The Charlotte, NC native has made two starts and one relief appearance for a total of 9.1 innings pitched. He has yielded eight hits (.222 opponents' batting average) and four walks with 12 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with senior righty Scott FirthScott Firth
Sr. RH Pitcher
#20 6-0, 175
Buffalo Grove, IL
View Full Profile (2-1, 0.86 ERA) on Sunday. The Buffalo Grove, IL native has made three starts for a total of 21.0 innings pitched. He has allowed 15 hits (.208 opponents' batting average) and four walks with 12 strikeouts.

The Series

Clemson and N.C. State have met 184 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 110-73-1 lead in the series dating to the 1921 season. The two teams have faced each other at least one time every season since 1953.

Last season at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Wolfpack won the last two games of the series after the Tigers won game-one 7-6 in 12 innings. In 2011 at Doak Field, the Wolfpack won two of the three games, then Clemson defeated N.C. State 6-3 in the ACC Tourney at Durham, NC.

The Tigers hold a 40-37 lead in games played at N.C. State and an 87-58 advantage in ACC regular-season games. Jack Leggett has a 44-23 record against the Wolfpack as Clemson's head coach, including a 13-14 mark at N.C. State. Leggett was 7-18 against the Wolfpack as Western Carolina's head coach, meaning he is 51-41 all-time against N.C. State.

The Wolfpack

N.C. State, led by 17th-year Head Coach Elliott Avent and ranked as high as #8 in the nation, enters the series against Clemson with an 11-2 overall record after splitting a pair of midweek games. Elon defeated the Wolfpack 24-12 on Tuesday before N.C. State topped Campbell 5-2 on Wednesday. N.C. State has an 8-1 record at home in 2013.

N.C. State is averaging 8.9 runs per game and hitting .300 with a .499 slugging percentage and .411 on-base percentage thanks to 71 walks and 22 hit-by-pitches against 81 strikeouts. The team has also totaled 38 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs, and 26 stolen bases in 28 attempts.

Trea Turner is hitting a team-best .490 with five doubles, two triples, four homers, 17 RBIs, 25 runs, and eight steals. Brett Williams is batting 395 with three homers, 15 RBIs, and eight steals, while Sam Morgan is hitting .348 with two homers. Jack Armstrong has a .490 on-base percentage as well.

The pitching staff has a 2.97 ERA and .180 opponents' batting average along with 116 strikeouts against 53 walks in 118.0 innings pitched. Senior righty Ryan Wilkins has a 2-0 record, one save, and has allowed just two hits, no runs, and two walks with seven strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched over five relief appearances. N.C. State, who has allowed 17 steals in 19 attempts, is fielding at a .956 clip as well.

The Tigers

Clemson enters the series at #8 N.C. State with a 7-4 overall record after defeating Wofford 9-2 at home on Wednesday. The Tigers, who are 0-1 on opponents' home fields, also won one of three games against #7 South Carolina over the weekend.

The Tigers are averaging 4.6 runs per game and hitting .253 with a .331 slugging percentage and .321 on-base percentage thanks to 32 walks and five hit-by-pitches against 71 strikeouts. Clemson has also totaled 20 doubles, one triple, two homers, and 15 stolen bases in 20 attempts.

Steve WilkersonSteve Wilkerson
Jr. 2nd Base
#17 6-1, 195
Roswell, GA
View Full Profile leads the team with a .366 batting average along with three doubles, one homer, eight RBIs, and a team-high five steals. Garrett BoulwareGarrett Boulware
So. Catcher
#30 6-1, 210
Anderson, SC
View Full Profile is hitting .321, while freshman Steven DuggarSteven Duggar
Fr. Outfielder
#9 6-1, 185
Moore, SC
View Full Profile is batting .316. Shane KennedyShane Kennedy
Jr.
#11 6-2, 190
Orlando, FL
View Full Profile has a team-high 12 RBIs as well.

The pitching staff has a 2.16 ERA and .228 opponents' batting average in 100.0 innings pitched. The staff has allowed 35 walks against 77 strikeouts, good for a 2.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Junior righty Matt CampbellMatt Campbell
Jr. RH Pitcher
#36 5-11, 195
Alpharetta, GA
View Full Profile has all three of the team's saves. The Tigers are fielding at a .975 clip as well.

Wilkerson No Stranger to Streaks

Junior second-baseman Steve Wilkerson (Roswell, GA) has been one of Clemson's best hitters in 2012 and 2013. The switch-hitter is batting a team-high .366 with three doubles, one homer, eight RBIs, nine runs, and a team-high five stolen bases.

He had a hit in Clemson's last game of the 2012 season and the first nine games of 2013. It was his third career double-digit hitting streak, as he had hitting streaks of 19 and 15 games in 2012.