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Georgia Tech (25-17, 9-12 ACC, RPI 30) vs. Clemson Tigers (24-18, 12-9 ACC, RPI 36)
This year's Tech squad had to replace quite a bit on both offense and the staff, so a rebuilding year was expected for them. As you can see below, the offense has done well in reloading but the pitching staff really misses the top Fri/Sat starters they have been fortunate enough to have the last few years. Their pitching has really taken a hit and that the the primary culprit for the poor record, bad D being another (.956). Tech usually waits until the postseason to choke (like us, but usually with a much better record by May), and this year the staff is doing it during the regular season.
Unfortunately we suck ass in Atlanta in pretty much any sport against anyone, and I expect us to lose the series, if not get swept altogether. Home team usually does really well in this series, like FSU v Clemson.
SEBaseball Regional Projections
Clemson AD Series Preview -- Georgia Tech AD series preview
The games on Friday and Saturday will be televised live by CSS, while Sunday's game will be available live via webcast at ESPN3.
Clemson and Georgia Tech have met 206 times on the diamond, with the Tigers holding a 103-100-3 lead in the series dating back to the 1902 season. The two teams have faced each other at least one time every year since 1974. Georgia Tech has won each of the last seven series against Clemson at Russ Chandler Stadium, as the Tigers' last series win in Atlanta came in 1996.
The Yellow Jackets hold a 70-39-2 lead in games played at Georgia Tech, while the Tigers own a 46-41 advantage in ACC regular-season games. Jack has a 38-31 record against Georgia Tech.
Last Week:
GT won 2 at Chapel Hill, then beat UGA this week.
Clemson swept Maryland, then followed it with a bad loss to Coastal.
Weekend Starters:
Friday, 7pm:
| Throws | Player | Rec | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks |
| RHP | Kevin Brady | 1-2 | 2.58 | 52.1 | 43 | 19 | 15 | 21 | 52 |
| RHP | Buck Farmer | 6-3 | 3.26 | 66.1 | 66 | 30 | 24 | 21 | 75 |
Farmer is pitching to a 0.90 ERA over his last four starts -- against Duke, No. 2 FSU, Wake Forest and No. 6 UNC. Farmer was the ACC Pitcher of the Week on April 2, after logging the league's only complete-game shutout this season, a 1-0 win over Duke.
Saturday, 4pm:
| Throws | Player | Rec | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks |
| RHP | Dominic Leone | 6-3 | 4.92 | 53.0 | 54 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 44 |
| RHP | Dusty Isaacs | 5-2 | 6.75 | 46.2 | 49 | 39 | 35 | 33 | 34 |
Sunday, 1pm:
| Throws | Player | Rec | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks |
| RHP | Kevin Pohle | 4-2 | 3.00 | 48.0 | 47 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 28 |
| RHP | Cole Pitts | 4-3 | 4.38 | 49.1 | 58 | 29 | 24 | 23 | 49 |
Hitting Comparison
| BA | OBP | H | R/9 | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SB-ATT | ||
| Clemson | .274 | .362 | 401 | 5.5 | 67 | 11 | 25 | 217 | 180 | 33 | 40/55 | |
| GT | .299 | .373 | 445 | 6.6 | 83 | 14 | 27 | 254 | 154 | 32 | 55/75 |
1B Jake Davies is the reigning ACC Player of the Week, after hitting .533 (8-for-15) with nine RBI as the Jackets went 3-1 last week. Davies hit two homers at No. 6 North Carolina, including a two-run shot that tied the series-finale at 2-2 in the seventh and triggered Tech's 4-2 comeback win. Davies leads the ACC with 46 RBI.
| Pos | Player | BA | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB |
| CF | Kyle Wren | .267 | 40 | 44 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 21 |
| 3B | Sam DOve | .361 | 36 | 60 | 12 | 2 | 19 | 18 |
| LF | Brandon Thomas | .363 | 41 | 57 | 12 | 2 | 30 | 24 |
| 1B | Jake Davies | .348 | 28 | 54 | 8 | 5 | 46 | 15 |
| DH | Zane Evans | .288 | 24 | 40 | 10 | 1 | 31 | 14 |
| RF | Daniel Palka | .288 | 28 | 44 | 9 | 9 | 32 | 12 |
| 2B | Thomas Smith | .375 | 9 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| C | Connor Lynch | .304 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| SS | Mott Hyde | .269 | 25 | 36 | 7 | 3 | 19 | 11 |
| Pos | Player | BA | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB |
| 2B | Steve Wilkerson | .324 | 36 | 56 | 9 | 0 | 22 | 13 |
| CF | Thomas Brittle | .338 | 29 | 47 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 13 |
| 3B | Richie Shaffer | .371 | 34 | 56 | 14 | 8 | 38 | 43 |
| DH | Phil Pohl | .309 | 21 | 51 | 9 | 6 | 41 | 11 |
| LF | Jay Baum | .245 | 13 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 15 |
| 1B | Jon McGibbon | .227 | 16 | 30 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 19 |
| C | Spencer Kieboom | .230 | 15 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 17 |
| RF | Brad Felder | .206 | 14 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 8 |
| SS | Jason Stolz | .268 | 22 | 44 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 14 |
Shaffer leads the team with a .371 batting average and a .505 on-base percentage. He has also reached base via a hit or walk in 20 straight games. Brittle is riding a 15-game hitting streak as well.
Wilkerson has come down from the stratosphere to .324.
Team Pitching
| ERA | W-L | SHO/CBO | Saves | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks | ||
| Clemson | 3.65 | 24-18 | 1/1 | 10 | 382.0 | 390 | 186 | 155 | 155 | 325 | |
| GT | 4.22 | 25-17 | 3/2 | 6 | 370.2 | 358 | 212 | 174 | 169 | 328 |
Alex Cruz sports a 0.86 ERA in ACC play, which leads the conference, and was responsible for Tech's series clinching win at No. 6 UNC. Cruz (5-1, 1.27 ERA in 42.2 IP) has yielded just two runs in his last 30 innings pitched and has been credited with five of Tech's last eight victories.
Most of the Tech pen is nothing to worry about. Luke Bard is outstanding (0.99 ERA in 27IP) and Matt Grimes is a regular sporting an ERA under 4.00, but the rest are high. Clemson's pen really has the edge in the series, statistically, even with Haselden and Andrews declining a bit. Firth, Kent and Campbell have all been very solid out there.