CLEMSON — Things could not have gone much better for the Clemson pitching staff in this weekend’s sweep of Army. In fact, the arms made a little history this weekend, doing something that’s not been done in well over two decades.
In the three-game weekend sweep, Tiger pitchers allowed just two runs (one earned) across 26 innings of work. Both of those came in Friday’s 3-2 season-opening win, with Clemson getting back-to-back shutouts in the doubleheader on Saturday.
The Tigers have not shut out a team in both games of a doubleheader in 25 years.
“Testament to our pitching staff,” head coach Erik Bakich said. “It’s been an awesome weekend. It is hard to sweep a doubleheader, not just sweep a team, but to get back-to-back shutouts in a doubleheader — it hasn’t happened since 2001. Just to show you how rare it is. Especially against a good team, a regional team. They will be in the postseason again this year, I know it.”
Coming into the season, Bakich was cautiously optimistic about the potential of his pitching staff, touting it as the deepest he’s had since being hired at Clemson.
“We are extremely pleased. An extremely high strike percentage this weekend. This is year four for our staff now, and that is probably the highest strike percentage for a weekend that we’ve had. The results were reflective of that. Good things happen when you pound the zone.”
After allowing two runs in the season-opener, Clemson hurlers have not allowed a run in 19 consecutive innings. Seeing as Aidan Knaak only went three innings in his first start of the season on Friday, that might bode well for what the rest of the staff is capable of moving forward.
On Friday, it was freshman Dylan Harrison who stepped up and delivered, going 4.1 innings and allowing just a single run.
On Saturday, in the first game of the doubleheader, it was Michael Sharman’s turn. The left-handed transfer from Tennessee struck out eight across six shutout innings in his first start for the Tigers. Sharman only gave up one hit and did not walk a batter in the 10-0 run-rule win.
“It was awesome,” Sharman said. “You work all fall to get ready for the season. I was very blessed to be able to get the start and to go out there and have the team work behind me. I was just trying to attack the strike zone. I definitely felt good. The arm felt good, my stuff was working. I was filling it up. That’s all I am trying to do. That is what (Jimmy) Belanger preaches. Pound the strike zone and let our defense work.”
In the second game on Saturday, it was Justin LeGuernic. The veteran left-hander picked up the first win of his career after coming on in relief of starter Talan Bell and throwing five scoreless innings while striking out six. LeGuernic only allowed three hits, and more importantly, he did not issue any walks. He was in complete command, something he has struggled with at times in past seasons.
“He really made some great adjustments over the past year,” Bakich said. “He worked on his delivery. He has made a lot of self-improvements. Also, the buy-in of making the team win. He not only showcased premium stuff out there, which makes him the prospect that he is, but he was strike one, strike two, very quickly, and working fast and using multiple pitches for strikes. He looked totally in control and totally poised and we liked the way that looked and looking forward to seeing more of him.”
Again, it really couldn’t have gone better pitching-wise. It’s a small sample size, but Clemson got really good efforts from top to bottom. Starters and relievers. And there are several arms that we’ve still not seen yet.
“We certainly met expectations from a pitching performance standpoint.”