Countdown to First Pitch – NC State
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net March 8, 2013

By Trey McCurry.

By Trey McCurry

Clemson (7-4) travels to Raleigh, NC to open ACC play, as they take on #8 NC State in a three-game series this weekend. Friday’s game is slated for a 3:00PM first pitch, Saturday’s contest has a 4:00PM start time, and Sunday’s finale is schedule for 1:00PM.

 

The Series

Clemson and NC State have met 184 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 110-73-1 lead in the series. The teams first met in 1921 and have faced each other at least once every season since 1953. 

Last season at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Wolfpack came back to win the series after dropping the first contest in the three-game set. In 2011, NC State won two of three games in Raleigh before Clemson won 6-3 at the ACC Tournament in Durham, NC. 

The Tigers hold a 40-37 lead in games at NC State and an 87-56 advantage in ACC regular-season meetings. Jack Leggett is 51-41 all-time against the Wolfpack (44-34 at Clemson and 7-18 at Western Carolina), including a 13-14 mark at NC State as Clemson’s head coach. 

The Wolfpack

NC State, led by 17th-year Head Coach Elliott Avent, is 11-2 (0-0 ACC) on the season including an 8-1 mark at home. The Wolfpack are ranked in the top-15 in all three major polls, coming in at #8 by Collegiate Baseball, #9 by Baseball America, and #14 in USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. NC State is coming off a midweek split, losing 24-12 at Elon on Tuesday and winning 5-2 over Campbell Wednesday. The Wolfpack were picked by ACC coaches to win the Atlantic Division and as the overall ACC champion in 2013. NC State is coming off a 43-20 (19-11) season in 2012 that saw them play in the Gainesville Super Regional and finish with a #12 national ranking. 

The Wolfpack are hitting .300 as a team in 2013 with 38 doubles, seven triples, 13 homers, 26 stolen bases (in 28 chances), 71 walks, 22 hit-by-pitches, and 81 strikeouts while averaging 8.9 runs per game. NC State’s pitching staff has a 2.97 ERA this season, allowing 77 hits (.180 opponents’ batting average) and 53 walks against 116 strikeouts in 118.0 innings. The Wolfpack are fielding at a .956 clip, committing 22 errors in 483 chances. 

The Tigers

Clemson enters the game 7-4 after a 9-2 win over Wofford on Wednesday. The Tigers are 1-1 away from home this season, including an 0-1 mark on opponents’ home fields. 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 .253 as a team in 2013 with 20 doubles, one triple, two homers, 15 stolen bases (in 20 chances), 32 walks, five hit-by-pitches, and 71 strikeouts while averaging 4.6 runs per game. Clemson’s pitching staff has a 2.16 ERA this season, allowing 83 hits (.228 opponents’ batting average) and 35 walks against 77 strikeouts in 100.0 innings. The Tigers are fielding at a .975 clip, committing 11 errors in 437 chances.

 

Projected Starting Lineups

NC State

C        #11 Brett Austin (SO/.220 BA with 4 2B, 1 3B, & 8 RBI in 13 games in 2013)

1B      #32 Tarran Senay (SR/.311 BA with 5 2B, 2 HR, & 16 RBI in 13 games in 2013)

2B      #1 Sam Morgan (JR/.348 BA with 3 2B, 2 HR, & 9 RBI in 12 games in 2013)

SS      #8 Trea Turner (SO/.490 BA with 5 2B, 4 HR, & 17 RBI in 13 games in 2013)

3B      #23 Jake Armstrong (SO/.219 BA with 4 2B, 2 3B, & 6 RBI in 11 games in 2013)

LF      #15 Bryan Adametz (SR/.306 BA with 3 2B, 5 RBI, & 7 R in 11 games in 2013)

CF      #3 Brett Williams (SR/.395 BA with 5 2B, 3 HR, & 15 RBI in 11 games in 2013)

RF      #30 Jake Fincher (SO/.296 BA with 3 2B, 8 RBI, & 11 R in 13 games in 2013)

DH     #19 Will Nance (FR/.310 BA with 2 2B, 1 RBI, & 6 R in 9 games in 2013)

 

Clemson

C        #30 Garrett Boulware (SO/.321 BA with 3 2B, 6 RBI, & 4 runs in 10 games in 2013)

1B      #12 Jon McGibbon (JR/.128 BA with 1 2B, 4 RBI, & 3 R in 11 games in 2013)

2B      #17 Steve Wilkerson (JR/.366 BA with 3 2Bs, 1 HR, & 8 RBI in 11 games in 2013)

SS      #3 Tyler Krieger (FR/.167 BA with 1 2B, 2 RBI, & 3 R in 11 games in 2013)

3B      #13 Jay Baum (SO/.282 BA with 2 2Bs, 3 RBI, & 4 R in 11 games in 2013)

LF      #1 Maleeke Gibson (FR/.190 BA with 1 R, 2 BBs, & 1 SB in 9 games in 2013)

CF      #4 Thomas Brittle (*SR/.268 BA with 1 2B, 1 RBI, & 9 R in 11 games in 2013)

RF      #9 Steven Duggar (FR/.316 BA with 4 2Bs, 7 RBI, & 8 R in 11 games in 2013)

DH     #11 Shane Kennedy (JR/.250 BA with 1 3B, 1 HR, & 12 RBI in 11 games in 2013)

 

Projected Starting Pitchers

In game one, Clemson will start sophomore righthander Daniel Gossett. The Lyman, SC native is 1-1 with a 1.00 ERA in three starts for a total of 18.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 13 hits (.197 opponents’ batting average) and seven walks against 16 strikeouts.

 

NC State will counter with sophomore lefthander Carlos Rodon. The Holly Springs, NC native is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts for a total of 20.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed seven hits (.104 opponents’ batting average) and five walks against 38 strikeouts.

 

In game two, the Tigers will start freshman Clate Schmidt. The Acworth, GA native is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in three appearances (two starts) for a total of 13.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 13 hits (.245 opponents’ batting average) and four walks against 10 strikeouts.

 

The Wolfpack will counter with senior righthander Ethan Ogburn. The High Point, NC native is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in two appearances (one start) for a total of 9.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed three hits (.103 opponents’ batting average) and five walks against eight strikeouts.

 

In game three, Clemson will start senior righthander Scott Firth. The Buffalo Grove, IL native is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts for a total of 21.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 15 hits (.208 opponents’ batting average) and four walks against 12 strikeouts.

 

NC State will counter with freshman lefthander Brad Stone. The Charlotte, NC native is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three appearances (two starts) for a total of 9.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed eight hits (.222 opponents’ batting average) and four walks against 12 strikeouts.

 

Worth Noting

  • Clemson is 20-9 all-time on March 8 with a 0-4 mark on the road. The Tigers are 21-7 all-time on March 9 with a 5-2 mark on the road. Clemson is 27-6 all-time on March 10 with a 4-3 mark on the road.
  • The Tigers and NC State have met every season since 1953, the longest consecutive streak by Clemson against an ACC opponent.
  • The two teams have met four times in three of the past five seasons, and have met four times in 10 of Leggett’s 19 seasons at Clemson.

 

Tiger Career Stats vs. NC State

Player                             AVG   G-S     AB      R        H       RBI     HR

Tyler Slaton           .500    3-1     2        2        1        1        0

Thomas Brittle       .438    3-3     16      3        7        3        0

Joe Costigan                   .400    2-1     5        0        2        0        0

Jon McGibbon        .118    6-4     17      1        2        1        1

Steve Wilkerson     .111    6-5     18      3        2        0        0

Jay Baum               .083    3-3     12      2        1        0        0

Garrett Boulware    .000    1-1     3        0        0        0        0

 

Player                             ERA    G-S     W-L    IP       H       ER      BB      SO

Joseph Moorefield  0.00    3-0     0-0     1.2     1        0        0        0

Patrick Andrews     0.00    1-0     0-0     1.2     0        0        0        2

Mike Kent              0.00    1-0     0-0     1.2     0        0        0        2

Matt Campbell        2.25    2-0     1-0     4.0     3        1        1        2

Scott Firth             2.38    2-1     2-0     11.1    5        3        9        9

Jonathan Meyer     2.70    5-1     1-0     10.0    8        3        5        8