Countdown to First Pitch – Duke
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net March 22, 2013

By Trey McCurry.

By Trey McCurry

Clemson (13-7, 3-3 ACC) will host Duke (11-10, 2-4 ACC) in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. Friday’s game is scheduled for a 4:00PM start, Saturday’s contests is slated for 6:30PM, and Sunday’s finale is scheduled for 1:00PM.

 

 

 

The Series

Clemson and Virginia have met 191 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 124-65-2 lead in the series. The teams first met in 1904 and have faced each other at least three times a season every year since 1990. 

Last season in Durham, Clemson swept the Blue Devils by scores of 4-1 (11 innings), 11-5, and 4-2. The last time the teams met at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Tigers swept the series by a combined score of 34-16. 

The Tigers hold a 64-24-1 lead in games played at Clemson, including 45-6 advantage at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, and lead 98-34-2 in ACC regular-season meetings. Jack Leggett is 44-15-1 all-time against Duke (all games as Clemson’s head coach), including a 23-4 mark against the Blue Devils at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. 

The Blue Devils

Duke, led by first-year Head Coach Chris Pollard, is 11-10 (2-4) on the season including a 4-3 mark away from home (with a win at Florida and two wins at Miami (FL)). The Blue Devils enter the weekend off a 3-0 win over Charlotte at home on Wednesday after being swept at home by Virginia Tech last weekend. Duke was picked by ACC coaches to finish sixth in the Coastal Division and is coming off a 21-34 (9-21 ACC) season in 2012.  

The Blue Devils are hitting .258 as a team in 2013 with 39 doubles, seven triples, 12 homers, 24 stolen bases (in 36 chances), 90 walks, 18 hit-by-pitches, and 136 strikeouts while averaging 4.9 runs per game. Duke’s pitching staff has a 4.26 ERA this season, allowing 169 hits (.243 opponents’ batting average) and 79 walks against 164 strikeouts in 188.0 innings. The Blue Devils are fielding at a .977 clip, committing 19 errors in 804 chances. 

The Tigers

Clemson enters the game 13-7 (3-3 ACC) off a two-game midweek sweep of Morehead State after dropping a series to #12 Virginia last weekend with all games taking place at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, where the Tigers are 10-5 in 2013. 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 .267 as a team in 2013 with 32 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 27 stolen bases (in 41 chances), 58 walks, 13 hit-by-pitches, and 138 strikeouts while averaging 5.2 runs per game. Clemson’s pitching staff has a 2.92 ERA this season, allowing 175 hits (.254 opponents’ batting average) and 60 walks against 139 strikeouts in 182.0 innings. The Tigers are fielding at a .969 clip, committing 25 errors in 783 chances. 

Projected Starting Lineups

Duke

C        #15 Mike Rosenfeld (JR/.344 BA with 7 2B, 1 3B, & 8 RBI in 17 games in 2013)

1B      #21 Chris Marconcini (*SO/.264 BA with 5 2B, 5 HR, & 17 RBI in 21 games in 2013)

2B      #13 Andy Perez (SO/.333 BA with 5 2B, 2 HR, & 7 RBI in 21 games in 2013)

SS      #7 Kenny Koplove (FR/.333 BA with 1 2B, 4 RBI, & 6 R in 12 games in 2013)

3B      #41 Jordan Betts (JR/.241 BA with 5 2B, 4 HR, & 14 RBI in 21 games in 2013)

LF      #26 Andrew Istler (SO/.152 BA with 1 HR, 4 RBI, & 3 R in 12 games in 2013)

CF      #3 Anthony D’Alessandro (JR/.176 BA with 2 2B, 3 3B, & 2 RBI in 19 games in 2013)

RF      #32 Jeff Kremer (SR/.278 BA with 5 2B, 7 RBI, & 16 R in 21 games in 2013)

DH     #5 Matt Berezo (JR/.304 BA with 2 2B, 9 RBI, & 4 R in 15 games in 2013)

 

Clemson

C        #30 Garrett Boulware (SO/.365 BA with 4 2B, 4 HR, & 20 RBI in 19 games in 2013)

1B      #12 Jon McGibbon (JR/.213 BA with 2 2B, 10 RBI, & 7 R in 20 games in 2013)

2B      #17 Steve Wilkerson (JR/.316 BA with 5 2B, 1 HR, & 14 RBI in 20 games in 2013)

SS      #3 Tyler Krieger (FR/.212 BA with 4 2B, 6 RBI, & 8 R in 20 games in 2013)

3B      #13 Jay Baum (SO/.247 BA with 4 2B, 3 RBI, & 6 SB in 20 games in 2013)

LF      #18 Tyler Slaton (SO/.241 BA with 2 2B, 3 RBI, & 2 R in 17 games in 2013)

CF      #4 Thomas Brittle (*SR/.292 BA with 2 2B, 1 HR, & 7 RBI in 20 games in 2013)

RF      #9 Steven Duggar (FR/.286 BA with 4 2B, 11 RBI, & 14 R in 20 games in 2013)

DH     #11 Shane Kennedy (JR/.254 BA with 2 3B, 2 HR, & 16 RBI in 20 games in 2013)

 

Projected Starting Pitchers

In game one, Duke will start sophomore lefthander Trent Swart. The Carlsbad, CA native is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in five starts for a total of 31.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 23 hits (.209 opponents’ batting average) and eight walks against 31 strikeouts.

 

Clemson will counter with sophomore righthander Daniel Gossett. The Lyman, SC native is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in five starts for a total of 31.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 23 hits (.200 opponents’ batting average) and 11 walks against 31 strikeouts.

 

In game two, the Blue Devils will start junior righthander Drew Van Orden. The Manhattan Beach, CA native is 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA in five starts for a total of 25.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 24 hits (.245 opponents’ batting average) and 11 walks against 28 strikeouts.

 

The Tigers will counter with freshman Clate Schmidt. The Acworth, GA native is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in five appearances (four starts) for a total of 21.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 29 hits (.319 opponents’ batting average) and nine walks against 14 strikeouts.

 

In game three, Duke will start junior righthander Robert Huber. The Plano, TX native is 2-2 with a 4.63 ERA in seven appearances (four starts) for a total of 23.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 20 hits (.238 opponents’ batting average) and 13 walks against 28 strikeouts.

 

Clemson will counter with senior righthander Scott Firth. The Buffalo Grove, IL native is 2-3 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts for a total of 32.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 32 hits (.256 opponents’ batting average) and seven walks against 20 strikeouts.

 

Worth Noting

  • Clemson is 24-16-2 all-time on March 22 with a 13-4-1 mark at home. The Tigers are 31-18 all-time on March 23 with a 19-6 mark at home. Clemson is 28-20-1 all-time on March 24 with a 22-10-1 mark at home.
  • The Tigers have swept Duke in five of the previous nine home series under Jack Leggett and have not lost a home series to the Blue Devils since 1993.
  • Clemson is 6-1 in 2013 following a loss.
  • The Tigers are 9-1 when they outhit the opposition and 4-6 when they do not outhit their opponents.

 

Tiger Career Stats vs. Duke

Player                             AVG   G-S     AB      R        H       RBI     HR

Garrett Boulware    .667    1-1     3        1        2        0        0

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

Thomas Brittle       .438    3-3     16      3        7        5        0

Jon McGibbon        .211    5-5     19      3        4        3        0

Jay Baum               .182    3-3     11      4        2        3        0

Steve Wilkerson     .125    6-6     24      7        3        2        0

Joe Costigan                   —–    1-0     0        0        0        0        0

 

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

Scott Firth             0.00    2-1     2-0     11.2    6        0        6        7

Jonathan Meyer     0.00    2-0     1-0     6.0     1        0        1        7

Matt Campbell        0.00    2-0     0-0     2.2     0        0        0        4

Daniel Gossett       0.00    1-0     Save   2.0     2        0        0        2

Kevin Pohle            2.70    2-1     1-0     10.0    8        3        1        6

Patrick Andrews     3.38    1-0     Save   2.2     3        1        0        1

Joseph Moorefield  —–    1-0     0-0     0.0     3        2        1        0