Hurricane Pitching Dominates Tigers

Any team that throws 3 left-handed starters up against us seems to do well, and Clemson could only muster 2 runs in 3 games in Coral Gables, despite Miami having a horrid bullpen. For the weekend we managed just 15 hits, leaving 17 men on base, while striking out 26 times.

Clemson pitching did not do that badly until today's game, when Schmidt and Schnell gave up a combined 6 runs. We just couldn't string the hits together to get the starters out of the game and deeper into their pen.

Its pretty disappointing because this would've been a quality series win on the road with some more tough ones coming up in the next month with GT and FSU.

Friday - Clemson 1-0

Goose Gossett (W, 6-2) outdueled Miami starter Christian Diaz. Over 7 innings, Goose struck out 10 while giving up just 3 singles and 2 walks, while Diaz went 8 and gave up the lone run on a Brittle grounder in the 6th. Matt Campbell got out the 8th and Firth finished it for his 3rd Save. The three Tiger righties combined to allow just two runners past first base and only one runner past second base. Both runners who advanced to second base did so on steals, as Miami was 0-for-10 with runners on base.

In the 6th, Jon McGibbon led off with a walk and later advanced to 3rd on an single to CF that bounced off the 2B's glove, then Thomas Brittle grounded out to 2nd to score the run. Clemson had just 5 hits in the game.

This was Clemson's 11th victory in a row.

Saturday - Miami 2-1

Miami starter Bryan Radziewski shut us down over 7 innings, striking out 10 and ending the win streak. He gave up just 2 hits, 1 run and 4 walks. Closer Eric Nedeljkovic registered his 9th save. Clemson was 1-for-13 with men on base and 0-for-7 with RISP, with 13 Ks.

Matt Crownover went 4 1/3, allowing 7 hits and 1 walk. He allowed 2 unearned runs, one in the outfield and another on a botched pickoff move. Meyer and Andrews together allowed only 1 hit over the next 3 innings.

Clemson could've had enough to easily win this game. In the 2nd, we had two men on base as a result of walks, and both moved up to scoring position as a result of a WP. Krieger struck out with 2 on and Wilkerson scored from 3rd on a Sac Fly by McGibbon but Kevin Bradley flew out to end the inning.

The Tigers had two more on in the 4th after a fielding error and a walk, but again Krieger struck out and McGibbon grounded to first. We left two more on in the 9th against the closer, Krieger and McGibbon, but Joe Costigan grounded out to first to end the game.

We had all the chances we needed to win this one.

Sunday - Miami 7-0

We just stunk it up at the plate today. Miami starter Andrew Suarez pitched a 6 hit shutout and did not walk a batter, while throwing just 109 pitches. We had a pitiful approach at the plate for much of the game and couldn't generate anything against this guy.

Only one CU runner went beyond first and that one was a result of a passed ball.

Clate Schmidt didn't have it again, and this is becoming a trend. He's not fooling anyone right now. In 3.2 IP, he gave up 8 hits to a pitiful hitting team and 4 runs. His pitches just caught too much of the plate, the offspeed isn't confusing anyone and his fastball is just too straight right now. It may be time to give Clate a midweek and take him out of the weekend rotation to keep his confidence up. He will still be needed for the Regionals.

Steve Wilkerson led the team with a 3-for-4 performance, and no other Tiger had more than 1 hit.

Clemson's pen did alright in relief until Kyle Schnell and Scott Firth got beat around in the 8th inning when Miami registered 3 more runs with the help of an error by Firth himself.

Clemson hosts Western Carolina this week and Georgia Tech at home next weekend.