By Trey McCurry.
By Trey McCurry
Clemson (2-1) hosts Wright State (3-0) in a three-game series this weekend 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 Wright State have met three times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 3-0 lead in the series. All three meetings took place during a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in 2010. Clemson outscored the Raiders 24-15 in the series, winning by scores of 4-3, 8-6, and 12-6. Jack Leggett is 3-0 all-time against Wright State with all three meetings coming during his time at Clemson.
The Raiders
Wright State, led by ninth-year Head Coach Rob Cooper, is a member of the Horizon League. The Raiders are 3-0 on the season, winning games over Temple (8-3) and LaSalle (9-5) last weekend at the Ron Fraser Classic in Cary, NC and defeated Dayton 5-1 on Monday. Wright State was picked by Horizon coaches to finish third in the five-team league in 2013. The Raiders are coming off a 37-21 (20-10) season in 2012 that saw them pick up road wins at NC State (5-4 in 11 innings) and Virginia (5-4) while being swept in a three-game series at North Carolina (3-17, 0-14, & 0-3).
The Raiders are hitting .341 as a team in 2013 with four doubles, a triple, two homers, 6 stolen bases (in eight chances), 17 walks, six hit-by-pitches, and 16 strikeouts while averaging 7.3 runs per game. Wright State’s pitching staff has a 1.67 ERA this season, allowing 23 hits (.230 opponents’ batting average) and seven walks against 24 strikeouts in 27.0 innings.
The Tigers
Clemson enters the weekend 2-1 after winning two of three games at home against William & Mary last weekend. The Tigers won games one (2-0) and three (12-2) while dropping game two (11-2). Clemson was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Division in 2013 by ACC coaches and is coming off a 35-28 (16-14) season in 2012 that included an appearance in the Columbia Regional.
The Tigers are hitting .305 as a team in 2013 with eight doubles, a homer, two stolen bases (in three chances), four walks, and 14 strikeouts while averaging 5.3 runs per game. Clemson’s pitching staff has a 4.00 ERA this season, allowing 26 hits (.257 opponents’ batting average) and nine walks against 21 strikeouts in 27.0 innings.
Projected Starting Lineups
Wright State
C #33 Garrett Gray (SR/.083 BA with 1 2B, 2 RBI, & 1 R in 3 games in 2013)
1B #19 Jeff Limbaugh (JR/.429 BA with 1 RBI, 4 R, & 2 BB in 2 games in 2013)
2B #11 Sam Picchiotti (SR/.417 BA with 2 2Bs, 1 HR, & 6 RBI in 3 games in 2013)
SS #6 Justin Kopale (SR/.300 BA with 1 HR, 2 RBI, & 3 R in 3 games in 2013)
3B #42 Michael Timm (SO/.200 BA with 2 RBI, 3 R, & 4 BB in 3 games in 2013)
LF #4 Cody Gardner (FR/.500 BA with 2 RBI, 1 R, & 2 BB in 3 games in 2013)
CF #1 Mark Fowler (JR/.714 BA with 1 RBI, 5 HBPs, & 4 SB in 3 games in 2013)
RF #14 Beau Phillips (JR/.500 BA with 1 2B, 3 RBI, & 2 R in 3 games in 2013)
DH #28 Jason DeFevers (FR/.333 BA with 1 3B, 1 RBI, & 2 R in 3 games in 2013)
Clemson
C #30 Garrett Boulware (SO/.500 BA with 1 2B, 2 RBI, & 2 runs in 2 games in 2013)
1B #12 Jon McGibbon (JR/.083 BA with 1 RBI in 3 games in 2013)
2B #17 Steve Wilkerson (JR/.417 BA with 1 2B, 4 RBI, & 2 R in 3 games in 2013)
SS #3 Tyler Krieger (FR/.200 BA with 1 RBI, 1 R, & 1 BB in 3 games in 2013)
3B #13 Jay Baum (SO/.273 BA with 1 2B and 1 SB in 3 games in 2013)
LF #1 Maleeke Gibson (FR/.500 BA with 1 R in 2 games in 2013)
CF #4 Thomas Brittle (*SR/.250 BA with 2 R in 3 games in 2013)
RF #9 Steven Duggar (FR/.556 BA with 2 2Bs, 1 RBI, & 3 R in 3 games in 2013)
DH #11 Shane Kennedy (JR/.273 BA 1 HR, 4 RBI, & 2 R in 3 games in 2013)
Projected Starting Pitchers
In game one, Wright State will start senior righthander Casey Henn. The Cincinnati, OH native is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start for a total of 6.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed three hits (.150 opponents’ batting average) and one walk against three strikeouts.
Clemson will counter with sophomore righthander Daniel Gossett. The Lyman, SC native is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start for a total of 6.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed four hits (.185 opponents’ batting average) and one walk against six strikeouts.
In game two, the Raiders will start junior righthander Taylor Braun. The Marion, OH native is 0-0 with a 1.59 ERA in one start for a total of 5.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed nine hits (.360 opponents’ batting average) and one walk against five strikeouts.
The Tigers will counter with freshman Clate Schmidt. The Acworth, GA native is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one relief appearance for a total of 2.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed three hits (.273 opponents’ batting average) and no walks against three strikeouts.
In game three, Wright State will start freshman lefthander Robby Sexton. The Pataskala, OH native is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in one start for a total of 4.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed three hits (.214 opponents’ batting average) and one walk against three strikeouts.
Clemson will counter with senior righthander Scott Firth. The Buffalo Grove, IL native is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in one start for a total of 7.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed two hits (.091 opponents’ batting average) and one walk against five strikeouts.
Worth Noting
- Clemson is 10-2 all-time on February 22 with a 7-0 mark at home. The Tigers are 13-5 all-time on February 23 with an 8-0 mark at home. Clemson is 15-5 all-time on February 24 with a 12-2 mark at home.
- Wright State is the only current Horizon League member that the Tigers and Head Coach Jack Leggett have ever faced.
- Only 17 of the 35 players on Clemson’s current roster played a game in a Tiger uniform prior to 2013.
Tiger Career Stats vs. Wright State
Player ERA G-S W-L IP H ER BB SO
Scott Firth 0.00 1-0 0-0 1.0 2 0 0 2
Joseph Moorefield 0.00 1-0 0-0 0.1 0 0 1 0
Jonathan Meyer 27.00 1-0 0-0 0.1 1 1 1 0