Countdown to First Pitch – Miami
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net April 19, 2013

By Trey McCurry.

By Trey McCurry

Clemson (26-11, 12-6 ACC), ranked as high as #12 in the nation, heads to Coral Gables, FL to take on Miami (FL) (25-15, 8-10 ACC) in a three-game series at Alex Rodriguez Park this weekend. Friday and Saturday’s contests are schedule for 7:00PM starts while Sunday’s finale is slated for 1:00PM.

 

 

The Series

Clemson and Miami (FL) have met 56 times on the diamond, with the Hurricanes holding a 29-26-1 lead in the series. The teams first met in 1977 and last faced off in Coral Gables in 2008.

Last season at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Tigers won two of three games by scores of 3-1, 3-1, and 2-4. The last time the teams met at Alex Rodriguez Park in 2008, Miami (FL) swept Clemson by a combined score of 28-15.

The Hurricanes hold a 14-9-1 lead over the Tigers in games played at Coral Gables while Clemson holds an 11-7 advantage in ACC regular-season meetings. Jack Leggett is 18-18 all-time against Miami (FL) (18-17 at Clemson, 0-1 at Western Carolina) and is 4-7 against the Hurricanes at Coral Gables.

The Hurricanes

Miami (FL), led by 20th-year Head Coach Jim Morris, is 25-15 (8-10 ACC) on the season. The Hurricanes are 19-8 at home in 2013, including 4-5 in ACC play. Miami (FL) enters the weekend off a 6-1 win over Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday after taking two of three games at Maryland last weekend. The Hurricanes were picked by ACC coaches to finish fourth in the six-team Coastal Division and are coming off a 36-23 (16-14 ACC) season and Coral Gables Regional appearance in 2012.

The Hurricanes are hitting .256 as a team in 2013 with 58 doubles, six triples, eight homers, 45 stolen bases (in 69 chances), 167 walks, 42 hit-by-pitches, and 263 strikeouts while averaging 4.5 runs per game. Miami (FL)’s pitching staff has a 3.65 ERA this season, allowing 359 hits (.264 opponents’ batting average) and 115 walks against 283 strikeouts in 358.0 innings. The Hurricanes are fielding at a .968 clip, committing 50 errors in 1526 chances.

The Tigers

Clemson enters the game 26-11 and is on a 10-game winning streak. The Tigers are ranked as high as #12 in the country, by Collegiate Baseball, and is ranked #20 by Baseball America and #22 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The Tigers are 9-4 away from home in 2013, including 8-4 on opponents’ home fields (6-3 in the ACC). 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 .278 as a team in 2013 with 58 doubles, nine triples, 13 homers, 59 stolen bases (in 86 chances), 133 walks, 15 hit-by-pitches, and 235 strikeouts while averaging 5.3 runs per game. Clemson’s pitching staff has a 3.15 ERA this season, allowing 327 hits (.256 opponents’ batting average) and 117 walks against 238 strikeouts in 337.0 innings. The Tigers are fielding at a .972 clip, committing 41 errors in 1432 chances.

Projected Starting Lineups

Clemson

C        #30 Garrett Boulware (SO/.316 BA with 6 2B, 7 HR, & 31 RBI in 36 games in 2013)

1B      #12 Jon McGibbon (JR/.229 BA with 4 2B, 21 RBI, & 19 R in 37 games in 2013)

2B      #17 Steve Wilkerson (JR/.286 BA with 10 2B, 1 HR, & 20 RBI in 34 games in 2013)

SS      #3 Tyler Krieger (FR/.271 BA with 6 2B, 1 3B, & 14 RBI in 37 games in 2013)

3B      #13 Jay Baum (SO/.217 BA with 4 2B, 6 RBI, and 10 SB in 37 games in 2013)

LF      #18 Tyler Slaton (SO/.344 BA with 3 2B, 1 3B, & 9 RBI in 34 games in 2013)

CF      #4 Thomas Brittle (*SR/.274 BA with 4 2B, 1 HR, & 12 RBI in 36 games in 2013)

RF      #9 Steven Duggar (FR/.299 BA with 6 2B, 2 HR, & 22 RBI in 37 games in 2013)

DH     #11 Shane Kennedy (JR/.328 BA with 4 2B, 2 HR, & 21 RBI in 37 games in 2013)

 

Miami (FL)

C        #40 Garrett Kennedy (SO/.254 BA with 1 2B, 1 HR, & 8 RBI in 26 games in 2013)

1B      #27 Brad Fieger (JR/.284 BA with 9 2B, 21 RBI, & 9 R in 35 games in 2013)

2B      #7 Alex Hernandez (JR/.277 BA with 10 2B, 1 HR, & 20 RBI in 40 games in 2013)

SS      #51 Brandon Lopez (FR/.227 BA with 1 2B, 4 RBI, & 12 R in 37 games in 2013)

3B      #19 David Thompson (FR/.269 BA with 9 2B, 3 HR, & 28 RBI in 30 games in 2013)

LF      #9 Tyler Palmer (JR/.254 BA with 2 2B, 5 RBI, & 9 R in 26 games in 2013)

CF      #36 Dale Carey (JR/.185 BA with 2 2B, 1 HR, & 5 RBI in 37 games in 2013)

RF      #2 Chantz Mack (SR/.299 BA with 9 2B, 1 3B, & 20 RBI in 40 games in 2013)

DH     #10 Alex San Juan (SR/.313 BA with 5 2B, 1 HR, & 16 RBI in 37 games in 2013)

 

Projected Starting Pitchers

In game one, Clemson will start sophomore righthander Daniel Gossett. The Lyman, SC native is 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA in nine starts for a total of 56.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 49 hits (.227 opponents’ batting average) and 20 walks against 51 strikeouts.

 

Miami (FL) will counter with sophomore lefthander Christian Diaz. The Florida City, FL native is 3-2 with a 1.78 ERA in nine starts for a total of 60.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 66 hits (.281 opponents’ batting average) and 11 walks against 37 strikeouts.

 

In game two, Clemson will start freshman lefthander Matthew Crownover. The Ringgold, GA native is 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts) for a total of 39.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 34 hits (.239 opponents’ batting average) and 10 walks against 23 strikeouts.

 

The Hurricanes will counter with junior lefthander Bryan Radziewski. The Miami, FL native is 5-1 with a 1.11 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) for a total of 40.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 22 hits (.158 opponents’ batting average) and 10 walks against 55 strikeouts.

 

In game three, Clemson will start freshman Clate Schmidt. The Acworth, GA native is 3-1 with a 4.07 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts) for a total of 42.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 57 hits (.328 opponents’ batting average) and 19 walks against 22 strikeouts.

 

Miami (FL) will counter with sophomore lefthander Andrew Suarez. The Miami, FL native is 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA in nine starts for a total of 46.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 56 hits (.306 opponents’ batting average) and 12 walks against 33 strikeouts.

 

Worth Noting

  • Clemson is 35-17 all-time on April 19 with a 14-11 mark on the road. The Tigers are 35-19-1 all-time on April 20 with a 15-11-1 mark on the road. Clemson is 36-20-1 all-time on April 21 with a 12-9-1 mark on the road.
  • This weekend’s matchup features two coaches that are in the top-12 in all-times wins by a coach at the Division I level. Morris has 1379 wins in 32 seasons (20 with the Hurricanes), a figure that is sixth in history and fifth among active coaches. Leggett has 1250 wins in 34 seasons (20 with the Tigers), a mark that is 12th all-time and sixth among active coaches.
  • The Tigers are 15-0 when scoring in the first inning and 18-1 when scoring first.
  • Clemson is 22-2 when scoring at least four runs and 17-0 when scoring at least six runs.
  • The Tigers are 19-1 when they outhit the opposition and 7-10 when they do not outhit their opponents.

 

Tiger Career Stats vs. Miami (FL)

Player                             AVG   G-S     AB      R        H       RBI     HR

Steve Wilkerson     .417    3-3     12      4        5        1        0

Tyler Slaton           .333    2-1     3        1        1        1        0

Jon McGibbon        .182    3-3     11      1        2        0        0

Thomas Brittle       .182    3-3     11      0        2        1        0

Jay Baum               .167    2-2     6        1        1        0        0

Mike Dunster          .000    1-0     1        0        0        0        0

 

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

Matt Campbell        0.00    1-0     1-0     4.0     1        0        0        7

Scott Firth *           0.00    2-0     0-0     4.0     3        0        2        2

Patrick Andrews *   0.00    1-0     0-0     2.0     1        0        0        1

Kevin Pohle            1.50    1-1     0-0     6.0     6        1        1        3

Jonathan Meyer     13.50  1-0     0-0     0.2     1        1        0        1

Mike Kent              —–    1-0     0-1     0.0     2        2        0        0

* – has one save.