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Wake Forest (19-17, 4-11 ACC) vs. Clemson Tigers (23-11, 9-6 ACC)
The Tigers have won 7 straight and Clemson is ranked as high as 17th, but we remain unranked in the Composite Poll that I go by each week. You have to stick with something with so many NCAA Baseball polls.
CB Daily projects Clemson as a 2-seed in the Columbia Regional.
WF has played a tough ACC slate so far, just like us. Their pitching has killed them in league play and they've pummeled the non-conference competition. They've been swept by #1 UNC and Virginia, then lost their series with GT and NC State 2-1. They beat Maryland 2-1 in their only ACC series win. Clemson may have a fight on their hands this weekend but I still expect us to win at least 2-1 at home, though we really need a sweep.
Clemson AD Series Preview -- Wake Forest AD series preview
Clemson and Wake Forest have met 175 times, with the Tigers holding a 121-53-1 lead in the series dating to the 1901 season. The two teams have faced each other at least one time every year since 1954. Clemson holds a 104-41-1 advantage in ACC regular-season games. Last year at Wake Forest, the preachers swept the Tigers by a combined score of 14-3, a complete disaster for Clemson. It was the first time a WF team had EVER swept Clemson.
Last Week:
Clemson swept BC in Boston, then took both midweeks against Western Carolina 12-9, and Presbyterian 5-4.
WF beat High Point twice this week, but were swept at UVA last weekend.
Weekend Starters:
Friday, 6:30pm:
| Throws | Player | Rec | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks |
| RHP | Matt Pirro | 3-4 | 5.87 | 38.1 | 41 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 21 |
| RHP | Daniel Gossett | 4-2 | 3.04 | 50.1 | 41 | 24 | 17 | 18 | 42 |
Saturday, 6:30pm:
| Throws | Player | Rec | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks |
| RHP | Justin Van Grouw | 3-4 | 4.54 | 39.2 | 48 | 28 | 20 | 15 | 31 |
| LHP | Matthew Crownover | 4-0 | 2.94 | 33.2 | 29 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 19 |
Sunday, 1pm:
| Throws | Player | Rec | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks |
| LHP | Austin Stadler | 5-2 | 2.39 | 49.0 | 44 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 41 |
| RHP | Clate Schmidt | 3-1 | 4.04 | 35.2 | 50 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 20 |
Hitting Comparison
| BA | SLG | H/9 | R/9 | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SB-ATT | ||
| Clemson | .277 | .362 | 9.5 | 5.3 | 56 | 5 | 11 | 157 | 112 | 15 | 51/76 | |
| Wake | .278 | .395 | 9.5 | 6.3 | 52 | 10 | 24 | 201 | 188 | 42 | 48/62 |
Its a little worrisome to me how everyone we keep running into hits better than we do across the board. Nearly everyone's power numbers are higher, and Wake's lead by 30 points. I'm just struggling to figure out why we can't get the ball out of the park, because I don't think its simply the fault of the Easton BBCOR bat we use. Our averages are up but our power numbers are pitiful compared even to our conference, and we don't work walks. We havent in a few years now.
| Pos | Player | BA | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB |
| LF | Tyler Slaton | .341 | 11 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| CF | Thomas Brittle | .285 | 27 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 14 |
| C | Garrett Boulware | .325 | 23 | 39 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 10 |
| 3B | Shane Kennedy | .316 | 23 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 21 |
| 2B | Steve Wilkerson | .272 | 17 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 18 | 9 |
| RF | Steven Duggar | .296 | 23 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 9 |
| 1B | Jon McGibbon | .240 | 18 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 10 |
| DH | Joe Costigan | .368 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| SS | Tyler Krieger | .267 | 14 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 8 |
| x-3B | Jay Baum | .222 | 14 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
| Pos | Player | BA | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB |
| CF | Evan Stephens | .391 | 31 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 19 |
| 2B | Conor Keniry | .232 | 18 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 19 |
| SS | Pat Blair | .288 | 30 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 41 |
| C/1B | Charlie Morgan | .253 | 13 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 15 |
| 1B | Matt Conway | .341 | 20 | 46 | 11 | 2 | 25 | 10 |
| LF | Kevin Jordan | .207 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 |
| RF | Jack Carey | .280 | 15 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 29 | 17 |
| DH | Andrew Williams | .289 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 3B | Mark Rhine | .264 | 19 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 16 |
Pat Blair's 41 BBs leads the nation, he also has the team lead in steals with 16.
Team Pitching
| ERA | W-L | SHO/CBO | Saves | IP | H | R | ER | BB | Ks | ||
| Clemson | 3.33 | 23-11 | 5/4 | 10 | 308.0 | 303 | 143 | 114 | 106 | 212 | |
| WF | 4.54 | 19-17 | 1/1 | 7 | 323.0 | 347 | 203 | 163 | 149 | 226 |
Its pretty apparent when comparing the offense + pitching that their pitching has been what kills them. Their pen has a few solid guys they go to often, but most have ERAs over 4.32. The leading innings eaters are Nate Jones (5.72 in 28.1 IP) and Jack Fischer (7.34 in 30.2 IP, 3 starts), which is pretty awful. Their best 3 are Closer Connor Kaden (2.25, 3 SV in 20IP), Niko Spezial (3.00 in 18IP), and midweek starter Mark McCoy (3.91 in 23 IP).
Clemson's team ERA has been inching up and up lately, and its across the board. Matt Campbell has not returned to 2012 form with a 5.68 this season, despite 6 saves. Schnell (1.86 in 19.1IP) and Erwin are the go-to guys (2.70 in 30) right now, with another group right behind. Innings are spreading out a little, but I'm hoping we can get some innings for Campana if we're going to waste a RS opportunity (3 1/3 so far).
Just keep JoMo and Bates on the bench.