Countdown to First Pitch – Florida State
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net May 16, 2013

By Trey McCurry.

By Trey McCurry

Clemson (38-15, 17-10 ACC), ranked as high as #14 in the nation, will travel to Tallahassee, FL to close the regular-season at #8 Florida State (42-10, 18-9 ACC) in a three-game series at Dick Howser Stadium from Thursday to Saturday. Thursday’s opener is scheduled for 6:00PM on ESPN3, Friday’s game is slated for 8:00PM on ESPNU, and Saturday’s finale is set for 3:00PM on ESPNU.

The Series

Clemson and Florida State have met 125 times on the diamond, with the Seminoles holding a 66-58-1 lead in the series. The teams first met in 1958 and have played at least three times every season since 1992, including 13 seasons with four or more meetings.

Last season, the Tigers won three of four meetings between the teams, taking two of three games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium (7-2, 9-7, & 5-9) and a 9-7, walk-off win at the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC. The last time the teams met in Tallahassee, Clemson also won two of three games by scores of 6-8, 7-4, and 8-5.

Florida State holds a 35-15-1 lead in games at Florida State despite the Tigers winning two of the past three series in Tallahassee. Clemson holds a 33-30 advantage in ACC regular-season games, but trails 11-19 in ACC meetings at Florida State. Jack Leggett is 34-39 all-time against the Seminoles, with all games coming as Clemson’s head coach, and is 9-18 against Florida State in Tallahassee.

The Seminoles

Florida State, led by 35th-year Head Coach Mike Martin, is 42-10 (18-9 ACC) on the season.

The Seminoles are ranked as high as #8 in the nation in the USA Today Coaches Poll and is #9 in both the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls. Florida State is 30-2 at home in 2013, including an 11-1 mark against ACC opponents. The Seminoles enter the weekend off a series win at #5 NC State and have won 11 of their past 12 games overall. Florida State was picked by ACC coaches to finish second in the six-team Atlantic Division and received one vote for overall ACC champion. The Seminoles are coming off a 50-17 (24-6 ACC) season in 2012 that ended in the College World Series and with a #4 final ranking.

The Seminoles are hitting .291 as a team in 2013 with 121 doubles, 14 triples, 29 homers, 37 stolen bases (in 62 chances), 300 walks, 83 hit-by-pitches, and 305 strikeouts while averaging 7.0 runs per game. Florida State’s pitching staff has a 2.66 ERA this season, allowing 402 hits (.234 opponents’ batting average) and 156 walks against 410 strikeouts in 460.0 innings. The Seminoles are fielding at a .965 clip, committing 69 errors in 1974 chances.

The Tigers

Clemson enters the game 38-15 (17-10 ACC) and is coming off a 8-7 walk-off win over USC Upstate on Tuesday night after sweeping Georgia Southern this past weekend. The Tigers, winners of eight straight games overall, are ranked in all three major polls, coming in at #14 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, #17 in the Baseball America poll, and #19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Clemson, who has won 22 of their last 26 games, is 12-6 away from home in 2013, including an 11-6 mark on opponents’ home fields. The Tigers were picked to finish third in the Atlantic Division in 2013 by ACC coaches and are coming off a 35-28 (16-14) season in 2012 that included an appearance in the Columbia Regional.

The Tigers are hitting .282 as a team in 2013 with 74 doubles, 14 triples, 16 homers, 94 stolen bases (in 129 chances), 229 walks, 26 hit-by-pitches, and 333 strikeouts while averaging 5.8 runs per game. Clemson’s pitching staff has a 2.94 ERA this season, allowing 472 hits (.258 opponents’ batting average) and 168 walks against 348 strikeouts in 481.0 innings. The Tigers are fielding at a .971 clip, committing 62 errors in 2117 chances.

Projected Starting Lineups

Florida State

C        #9 Stephen McGee (*JR/.299 BA with 15 2B, 8 HR, & 45 RBI in 52 games in 2013)

1B      #3 John Nogowski (SO/.289 BA with 9 2B, 1 3B, & 27 RBI in 47 games in 2013)

2B      #12 John Sansone (FR/.252 BA with 8 2B, 2 HR, & 30 RBI in 51 games in 2013)

SS      #1 Giovanny Alfonzo (SO/.236 BA with 4 2B, 22 RBI, & 24 R in 50 games in 2013)

3B      #53 Jose Brizuela (SO/.328 BA with 12 2B, 3 HR, & 39 RBI in 51 games in 2013)

LF      #8 DJ Stewart (FR/.328 BA with 20 2B, 4 HR, & 49 RBI in 48 games in 2013)

CF      #18 Seth Miller (SR/.284 BA with 13 2B, 3 3B, & 16 RBI in 50 games in 2013)

RF      #44 Jameis Winston (FR/.293 BA with 7 2B, 3 3B, & 9 RBI in 31 games in 2013)

DH     #24 Marcus Davis (JR/.314 BA with 17 2B, 9 HR, & 49 RBI in 52 games in 2013)

 

Clemson

C        #30 Garrett Boulware (SO/.311 BA with 7 2B, 7 HR, & 43 RBI in 52 games in 2013)

1B      #12 Jon McGibbon (JR/.270 BA with 5 2B, 37 RBI, & 30 R in 52 games in 2013)

2B      #17 Steve Wilkerson (JR/.310 BA with 16 2B, 1 HR, & 31 RBI in 50 games in 2013)

SS      #3 Tyler Krieger (FR/.280 BA with 9 2B, 1 3B, & 25 RBI in 53 games in 2013)

3B      #11 Shane Kennedy (JR/.326 BA with 5 2B, 4 HR, & 30 RBI in 53 games in 2013)

LF      #18 Tyler Slaton (SO/.284 BA with 3 2B, 1 3B, & 12 RBI in 50 games in 2013)

CF      #4 Thomas Brittle (*SR/.267 BA with 5 2B, 1 HR, & 24 RBI in 52 games in 2013)

RF      #9 Steven Duggar (FR/.287 BA with 7 2B, 2 HR, & 25 RBI in 53 games in 2013)

DH     #1 Maleeke Gibson (FR/.238 BA with 2 2B, 14 RBI, & 16 R in 32 games in 2013)

 

Projected Starting Pitchers

In game one, Clemson will start sophomore righthander Daniel Gossett. The Lyman, SC native is 8-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 13 starts for a total of 80.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 64 hits (.213 opponents’ batting average) and 28 walks against 80 strikeouts.

 

Florida State will counter with junior righthander Peter Miller. The Lutz, FL native is 6-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 11 starts for a total of 53.1 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 51 hits (.252 opponents’ batting average) and 18 walks against 43 strikeouts.

 

In game two, the Tigers will start freshman lefthander Matthew Crownover. The Ringgold, GA native is 7-1 with a 1.90 ERA in 13 appearances (12 starts) for a total of 61.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 54 hits (.241 opponents’ batting average) and 16 walks against 39 strikeouts.

 

The Seminoles will counter with sophomore righthander Luke Weaver. The DeLand, FL native is 5-2 with a 2.17 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts) for a total of 70.2 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 66 hits (.214 opponents’ batting average) and 14 walks against 83 strikeouts.

 

In game three, Clemson will start freshman lefthander Zack Erwin. The Duluth, GA native is 5-0 with a 2.88 ERA in 19 appearances (three starts) for a total of 50.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 38 hits (.221 opponents’ batting average) and 17 walks against 26 strikeouts.

 

Florida State will counter with sophomore lefthander Brandon Leibrandt. The Alpharetta, GA native is 8-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 13 starts for a total of 74.0 innings pitched in 2013. He has allowed 66 hits (.245 opponents’ batting average) and 25 walks against 69 strikeouts.

 

Worth Noting

  • Clemson is 19-16 all-time on May 16 with a 9-8 mark on the road. The Tigers are 16-10 all-time on May 17 with a 7-5 mark on the road. Clemson is 16-8 all-time on May 18 with a 1-3 mark on the road.
  • Clemson and the Florida State are the only two teams to win the Atlantic Division since the ACC went to the division format in 2006.
  • All 73 of Leggett’s games coached against Florida State have been against a top-25 Seminole team. The Tigers are 29-35 against a top-10 Florida State squad under Leggett.
  • The Tigers are 18-1 when scoring in the first inning and 28-2 when scoring first.
  • Clemson is 32-3 when scoring at least four runs and 26-1 when scoring at least six runs.
  • The Tigers are 28-1 when they outhit the opposition and 10-14 when they do not outhit their opponents.
  • Clemson has outscored its opposition in all nine innings and in extra innings.

 

Tiger Career Stats vs. Florida State

Player                             AVG   G-S     AB      R        H       RBI     HR

Mike Dunster          1.000  2-0     1        1        1        0        0

Joe Costigan                   1.000  1-0     1        0        1        0        0

Jon McGibbon        .300    8-5     20      4        6        5        1

Thomas Brittle       .200    4-4     15      4        3        0        0

Steve Wilkerson     .176    6-4     17      2        3        2        0

Jay Baum               .154    4-4     13      2        2        0        0

Tyler Slaton           —–    4-0     0        0        0        0        0

 

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

Daniel Gossett       0.00    1-0     1-0     4.0     2        0        5        3

Patrick Andrews     3.38    2-0     1-0     8.0     6        3        5        3

Matt Campbell        4.50    1-0     0-0     2.0     2        1        0        1

Scott Firth *           6.75    2-0     0-0     4.0     7        3        2        4

Jonathan Meyer     12.15  2-2     0-1     6.2     15      9        4        7

Joseph Moorefield  45.00  4-0     0-0     1.0     3        5        1        1

* – has one save.