By Trey McCurry.

By Trey McCurry

Clemson (10-5, 2-1 ACC) will host #12 Virginia (15-1, 2-1 ACC) in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. Friday & Saturday’s contests are slated for 6:30PM starts while Sunday’s finale is scheduled for 1:00PM. 

The Series

Clemson and Virginia have met 150 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 102-48 lead in the series. The teams first met in 1955 and have played at least one game in every season since then except for the 2008 season. 

Last season in Charlottesville, Virginia swept the Tigers by a combined score of 16-7 and also downed Clemson 3-2 in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC. The last time the teams met at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Cavaliers swept the series by a combined score of 20-13. 

The Tigers hold a 52-13 lead in games played at Clemson, including 40-11 advantage at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, and lead 92-40 in ACC regular-season meetings. Jack Leggett is 33-28 all-time against Virginia (31-28 at Clemson and 2-0 at Vermont), including a 16-8 mark against the Cavaliers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. 

The Cavaliers

Virginia, led by 10th-year Head Coach Brian O’Connor, is 15-1 (2-1) on the season including a 2-0 mark away from home. The Cavaliers are ranked in all three major polls, coming in at #12 by Collegiate Baseball, #13 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, and #22 by Baseball America. Virginia is coming off a 7-2 win over Liberty on Wednesday after taking two of three games from Maryland last weekend. The Cavaliers were picked by ACC coaches to finish third in the Coastal Division, but did get a single vote for overall ACC champion in 2013. Virginia is coming off a 39-19-1 (18-12) season in 2012 that saw them host the Charlottesville Regional and finish with a #23 national ranking. 

The Cavaliers are hitting .313 as a team in 2013 with 28 doubles, 16 triples, 11 homers, 22 stolen bases (in 29 chances), 97 walks, 27 hit-by-pitches, and 70 strikeouts while averaging 8.8 runs per game. Virginia’s pitching staff has a 1.88 ERA this season, allowing 123 hits (.228 opponents’ batting average) and 36 walks against 139 strikeouts in 144.0 innings. The Cavaliers are fielding at a .962 clip, committing 23 errors in 589 chances.

The Tigers

Clemson enters the game 10-5 (2-1 ACC) after winning two of three games at #8 NC State last weekend and a 3-1 win over Charleston Southern on Wednesday. The Tigers are 7-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this season. 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 .248 as a team in 2013 with 24 doubles, one triple, five homers, 24 stolen bases (in 33 chances), 46 walks, 11 hit-by-pitches, and 103 strikeouts while averaging 4.8 runs per game. Clemson’s pitching staff has a 2.20 ERA this season, allowing 120 hits (.238 opponents’ batting average) and 45 walks against 104 strikeouts in 135.0 innings. The Tigers are fielding at a .969 clip, committing 19 errors in 586 chances. 

Projected Starting Lineups

Virginia

C        #18 Nate Irving (SO/.288 BA with 2 2Bs, 14 RBI, & 8 R in 15 games in 2013)

1B      #13 Jared King (*SR/.245 BA with 2 2Bs, 1 3B, & 8 RBI in 15 games in 2013)

2B      #25 Reed Gragnani (SR/.300 BA with 2 2Bs, 3 3Bs, & 10 RBI in 15 games in 2013)

SS      #7 Branden Cogswell (SO/.392 BA with 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs, & 7 RBI in 16 games in 2013)

3B      #33 Nick Howard (SO/.354 BA with 5 2Bs, 2 3Bs, & 12 RBI in 13 games in 2013)

LF      #23 Derek Fisher (SO/.333 BA with 3 2Bs, 2 HR, & 19 RBI in 15 games in 2013)

CF      #10 Brandon Downes (SO/.338 BA with 4 2Bs, 3 HR, & 18 RBI in 16 games in 2013)

RF      #14 Joe McCarthy (FR/.333 BA with 1 2B, 1 HR, & 13 RBI in 16 games in 2013)

DH     #9 Kenny Towns (SO/.286 BA with 5 2Bs, 3 HR, & 22 RBI in 16 games in 2013)

Clemson

C        #30 Garrett Boulware (SO/.333 BA with 4 2B, 2 HR, & 11 RBI in 14 games in 2013)

1B      #12 Jon McGibbon (JR/.185 BA with 1 2B, 6 RBI, & 5 R in 15 games in 2013)

2B      #17 Steve Wilkerson (JR/.293 BA with 3 2Bs, 1 HR, & 11 RBI in 15 games in 2013)

SS      #3 Tyler Krieger (FR/.184 BA with 2 2Bs, 3 RBI, & 4 R in 15 games in 2013)

3B      #13 Jay Baum (SO/.286 BA with 3 2Bs, 3 RBI, & 6 R in 15 games in 2013)

LF      #1 Maleeke Gibson (FR/.206 BA with 1 R, 2 RBI, & 4 R in 13 games in 2013)

CF      #4 Thomas Brittle (*SR/.250 BA with 1 2B, 1 HR, & 5 RBI in 15 games in 2013)

RF      #9 Steven Duggar (FR/.278 BA with 4 2Bs, 8 RBI, & 11 R in 15 games in 2013)

DH     #11 Shane Kennedy (JR/.250 BA with 1 3B, 1 HR, & 12 RBI in 15 games in 2013)

Projected Starting Pitchers

In game one, Virginia will start freshman lefthander Brandon Waddell. The Houston, TX native is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts for a total of 22.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 22 hits (.239 opponents’ batting average) and six walks against 33 strikeouts.

Clemson will counter with sophomore righthander Daniel Gossett. The Lyman, SC native is 2-1 with a 1.46 ERA in four starts for a total of 24.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 18 hits (.200 opponents’ batting average) and 11 walks against 25 strikeouts.

In game two, Virginia will start senior lefthander Scott Silverstein. The Olney, MD native is 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in four starts for a total of 24.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 22 hits (.247 opponents’ batting average) and seven walks against 14 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with freshman Clate Schmidt. The Acworth, GA native is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in four appearances (three starts) for a total of 17.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 21 hits (.288 opponents’ batting average) and six walks against 13 strikeouts.

In game three, Virginia will start sophomore righthander Nick Howard. The Olney, MD native is 2-1 with a 0.81 ERA in four starts for a total of 22.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 20 hits (.235 opponents’ batting average) and one walk against 22 strikeouts.

Clemson will counter with senior righthander Scott Firth. The Buffalo Grove, IL native is 2-2 with a 0.98 ERA in four starts for a total of 27.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 23 hits (.230 opponents’ batting average) and five walks against 15 strikeouts.

Worth Noting

• Clemson is 21-10-1 all-time on March 15 with a 13-4 mark at home. The Tigers are 15-14 all-time on March 16 with a 10-2 mark at home. Clemson is 26-11 all-time on March 17 with a 12-1 mark at home.
• The Cavaliers have won eight straight in the series and 18 of the last 20 meetings after the Tigers won 100 of the 130 matchups.

Tiger Career Stats vs. Virginia

Player                             AVG   G-S     AB      R        H       RBI     HR

Jay Baum               .375    3-2     8        0        3        0        0

Joe Costigan                   .333    3-0     3        1        1        0        0

Steve Wilkerson     .300    6-5     20      3        6        2        0

Jon McGibbon        .222    4-2     9        1        2        1        1

Tyler Slaton           .167    3-3     6        0        1        0        0

Mike Dunster                   .000    3-2     7        0        0        0        0

Thomas Brittle       .000    3-1     4        0        0        0        0

Garrett Boulware    .000    1-1     2        0        0        0        0

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

Scott Firth             0.00    3-0     0-0     5.1     3        0        3        3

Patrick Andrews     0.00    1-0     0-0     1.0     0        0        0        0

Matt Campbell        0.00    2-0     0-0     0.1     1        0        2        1

Joseph Moorefield  0.00    1-0     0-0     0.1     0        0        0        1

Daniel Gossett       1.35    1-1     0-0     6.2     4        1        6        6

Jonathan Meyer     2.45    2-0     0-0     7.1     7        2        2        3

Kevin Pohle            6.23    3-1     0-1     4.1     5        3        4        1

Mike Kent              7.50    2-0     0-1     6.0     6        5        4        4