Countdown to First Pitch – William & Mary
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net February 14, 2013

By Trey McCurry.

By Trey McCurry

Clemson (0-0) will open the 2013 season this weekend when it hosts William & Mary (0-0) in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Game times are 4:00 PM on Friday, 2:00 PM on Saturday, and 1:00 PM on Sunday.

 

 

The Series

Clemson and William & Mary have met three times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams first met in 2000 and last played in 2006. Clemson won the 2000 game by a score of 10-6, took a 4-1 decision in the 2001 Clemson Regional, and defeated the Tribe 10-5 in 2006. All three meetings in the series have taken place at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Jack Leggett is 3-0 all-time against William & Mary with all three meetings taking place during his time at Clemson, including earning his 300th win at Clemson against the Tribe in 2000. 

The Tribe

William & Mary, led by first-year Head Coach Jamie Pinzino, is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Tribe is coming off a 31-25 season, including a 12-18 mark in the CAA. They were picked by CAA coaches to finish seventh in the 10-team league in 2013. Last season, William & Mary went 0-8 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament, dropping single games at East Carolina and at Virginia and suffering three-game sweeps at Florida and at home against UNC Wilmington. 

The Tribe hit .284 as a team in 2012 with 98 doubles, 15 triples, 26 homers, 350 runs, 76 stolen bases, 221 walks, 90 hit-by-pitches, and 368 strikeouts while averaging 6.3 runs per game. The nine returning players combined to hit .300 in 2012 with 62 doubles, 10 triples, 21 homers, 248 runs, 64 stolen bases, 126 walks, 69 hit-by-pitches, and 222 strikeouts. 

William & Mary’s pitching staff had a 3.01 ERA last season, allowing 444 hits (.244 opponents’ batting average) and 126 walks against 387 strikeouts in 486.2 innings. The seven returning pitchers combined to go 14-12 with nine saves and a 3.30 ERA in 2012, allowing 221 hits (.252 opponents’ batting average) and 62 walks against 193 strikeouts in 231.2 innings. 

The Tigers

Clemson enters the 2013 season off a 35-28 (16-14 ACC) season in 2012 that included an appearance in the Columbia Regional. The Tigers were picked to finish third in the Atlantic Division of the ACC by the league’s coaches in the 2013 preseason poll. Clemson returns 18 lettermen from 2012, including four starting position players and three starting pitchers. 

The Tigers hit .269 as a team in 2012 with 102 doubles, 15 triples, 44 homers, 357 runs, 68 stolen bases, 270 walks, 52 hit-by-pitches, and 399 strikeouts while averaging 5.7 runs per game. The eight returning players combined to hit .260 in 2012 with 43 doubles, 13 triples, eight homers, 271 runs, 40 stolen bases, 125 walks, 29 hit-by-pitches, and 184 strikeouts. 

Clemson’s pitching staff had a 3.90 ERA last season, allowing 588 hits (.269 opponents’ batting average) and 248 walks against 460 strikeouts in 575.1 innings. The 10 returning pitchers combined to go 23-19 with 12 saves and a 3.84 ERA in 2012, allowing 383 hits (.264 opponents’ batting average) and 163 walks against 299 strikeouts in 380.0 innings.

 

Projected Starting Lineups

William & Mary

C        #18 Ryan Hissey (FR/first season in college)

1B      #16 Kevin Nutter (SR/.321 BA with 8 2Bs, 16 RBI, & 45 R in 56 games in 2012)

2B      #5 Ryan Lindemuth (JR/.376 BA with 17 2Bs, 5 HRs, & 48 RBI in 56 games in 2012)

SS      #24 Ryan Williams (SR/.231 BA with 7 2Bs, 4 HRs, & 24 RBI in 47 games in 2012)

3B      #25 Michael Katz (SO/.316 BA with 10 2Bs, 10 HRs, & 58 RBI in 55 games in 2012)

LF      #10 William Shaw (JR/first season at William & Mary)

CF      #6 Ryan Brown (SR/.302 BA with 8 2Bs, 18 RBI, & 54 R in 56 games in 2012)

RF      #4 Derek Lowe (SR/did not play in 2012)

DH     #23 Charley Gould (FR/first season in college)

 

Clemson

C        #30 Garrett Boulware (SO/.214 BA with 2 2Bs, 2 RBI, & 7 R in 28 games in 2012)

1B      #12 Jon McGibbon (JR/.233 BA with 8 2Bs, 5 HRs, & 33 RBI in 59 games in 2012)

2B      #17 Steve Wilkerson (JR/.295 BA with 13 2Bs, 1 HR, & 31 RBI in 59 games in 2012)

SS      #3 Tyler Krieger (FR/first season in college)

3B      #13 Jay Baum (SO/.220 BA with 4 2Bs, 11 RBI, & 24 R in 54 games in 2012)

LF      #18 Tyler Slaton (SO/.189 BA with 1 2B, 7 RBI, & 15 R in 47 games in 2012)

CF      #4 Thomas Brittle (*SR/.298 BA with 9 2Bs, 2 HRs, & 36 RBI in 58 games in 2012)

RF      #9 Steven Duggar (FR/first season in college)

DH     #11 Shane Kennedy (JR/first season at Clemson)

 

Projected Starting Pitchers

In game one, William & Mary will start senior righthander Brett Koehler. The Glen Gardner, NJ native had a 6-2 record and a 3.21 ERA in 13 appearances (10 starts) for a total of 70.0 innings pitched in 2012. He allowed 63 hits (.237 opponents’ batting average) and 10 walks against 55 strikeouts. 

Clemson will counter with sophomore righthander Daniel Gossett. The Lyman, SC native had a 6-3 record and two saves with a 4.32 ERA in 19 appearances (10 starts) for a total of 77.0 innings pitched in 2012. He allowed 62 hits (.221 opponents’ batting average) and 39 walks against 87 strikeouts. 

In game two, the Tribe will start senior righthander John Farrell. The Andover, MA native had a 2-3 record with eight saves and a 2.32 ERA in 24 appearances for a total of 42.2 innings pitched in 2012. He allowed 43 hits (.269 opponent’s batting average) and 14 walks against 42 strikeouts. 

The Tigers will counter with sophomore righthander Patrick Andrews. The Hilton Head Island, SC native had a 2-3 record with two saves and a 5.52 ERA in 20 appearances for a total of 29.1 innings pitched in 2012. He allowed 29 hits (.264 opponents’ batting average) and 15 walks against 25 strikeouts. 

In game three, William & Mary will start sophomore lefthander Jason Inghram. The Chesapeake, VA native had a 3-2 record and a 3.20 ERA in 16 appearances (six starts) for a total of 39.1 innings pitched in 2012. He allowed 35 hits (.241 opponents’ batting average) and 13 walks against 41 strikeouts. 

Clemson will counter with senior righthander Scott Firth. The Buffalo Grove, IL native had a 4-0 record with three saves and a 2.09 ERA in 24 appearances for a total of 51.2 innings pitched in 2012. He allowed 44 hits (.229 opponents’ batting average) and 33 walks against 44 strikeouts.

 

Worth Noting

  • Clemson is 4-0 all-time on February 15 with a 3-0 mark at home. The Tigers are 6-3 all-time on February 16 with a 5-1 mark at home. Clemson is 6-4 all-time on February 17 with a 3-3 mark at home.
  • The Tigers are 93-18 all-time against current members of CAA, including a 74-9 mark at home.
  • Clemson volunteer assistant Michael Johnson faced the Tribe twice in his career, going 4-7 with three runs and an RBI along with a homer, walk, and three stolen bases.
  • Tiger student assistant Brad Chalk faced William & Mary in 2006, going 0-2 with two runs, three walks, and a strikeout.

 

Season Notes

  • Clemson plays 21 of its 56 games against teams that participated in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
  • The Tigers will play 47 of their 56 games in the Carolinas and Georgia.
  • Clemson plays 14 games against teams from North Carolina, 10 against teams from South Carolina, eight against teams from Georgia, six against teams from Florida & Virginia, three against teams from Maryland, Massachusetts, & Ohio, and two against teams from Kentucky.
  • The Tigers play 36 home games overall, including 18 of their first 23 games overall.