Tigers Sweep The Week

Clemson had a cupcake week that would test their pitching depth and came out on top all the way around, winning by scores of 14-2, 12-2, 7-1, 7-0, and 11-6 over Furman and Georgia Southern. Including Monday's DH against Maryland, it was the first 7 game week since 1996 that we swept, by a combined score of 63-18 and a .349 average. Shane Kennedy (12-for-24, 3B, HR, 10 R, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 5 SB) led the Clemson offense on the week. Wilkerson went 11-for-24, McGibbon 10-for-22, and Brittle 8-for-19 on the week as well. The Tiger pitching staff had a 1.57 ERA and .220 opponents' batting average on the week. I was in Tigertown this weekend and even though we faced weak competition, we do look like a quality baseball team all around.

Clemson has faced the #14 SOS thus far, with an RPI rating this morning of #12. We're 7-8 against the Top 25 and 15-12 against the RPI top 50. I think a regional hosting is locked up for us, and if we come through that on top we'll put in a bid for the Super Regional hosting and we may get it. SEBaseball currently projects Clemson to host the Regionals with Minnesota, Stanford, and Mercer.

The last test before the ACC Tournament is hosting Florida State next weekend at Tiger Field, where the home team usually does very well. If we win 2 of that series we're hosting.

Wednesday - Clemson 12-2 and 14-2 over Furman at Fluor Field

In Game 1, Koerner went 6, allowing just 1 hit, but walked 6 Paladins to get his first win of the season. Wilkerson, Kennedy, and Brittle all had three hits apiece to lead Clemson's 14-hit attack. Wilkerson went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, four RBIs, and two walks. Brittle went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, three runs, and two steals.

Jonathan Meyer started the 2nd game, but lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing 9 hits but only 2 runs before being pulled for Schnell. Both of the runs allowed were in part due to bad defense in the 4th. He and Campana (finally getting some innings this week) shut down the Paladins over the next 4 innings. McGibbon went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs while Gibson, Wilkerson, and Duggar added two hits apiece for the Tigers, who totaled 14 hits and seven steals in the contest. It capped an outstanding day for the Clemson offense, who amassed 26 runs, 28 hits, 18 walks, three hit-by-pitches, and 12 steals in the doubleheader.

Friday - Clemson 7-1 over Ga. Southern

Goose (8-3) shut down GSU from the start, and just had to coast to win. Over 7.1 innings, he allowed only 2 hits, the 1 run, and struck out 12. Campbell and Bates finished the game after that.

In the 1st, Maleeke Gibson, who led off the weekend's games, worked a walk and stole 2nd. Garrett Boulware laced a single to plate him and give us a 1-0 lead.

Clemson added 3 more runs in the 4th. Kennedy got on with a walk and a timely hit-&-run with McGibbon got him to 3rd, Krieger grounded to 1st and they couldn't get him out on the 3-6-3, but Kennedy scored. Brittle then walked and Mike Triller doubled to score them both, giving us a 4-0 lead. That was all Goose needed.

Boulware and Triller both went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead Clemson, who outhit Georgia Southern 9-3. Kennedy went 2-for-2 with a triple and two walks as well.

Saturday - Clemson 7-0

Crownover (7-1) cruised through 7 innings until reaching his pitch limit, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 8. He looks as composed on the mound as a senior and his command was stellar. Had he not had Tommy John surgery he would've finished this game. Andrews and Campana finished the game.

Clemson scored single runs in each of the first 3 innings, but could've blown this game open if we had just had one timely 2-out hit. In the first, Gibson, WIlkerson and Duggar all reached, but Boulware grounded into a DP and we registered just 1 run. In the 2nd, we loaded them again with no outs, and again just a single run. We had two more on in the 3rd and only a single run. Thankfully we finally blew it open with a 4-run 7th.

Duggar paced Clemson's 12-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with a run. Boulware went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while Kennedy and Krieger added two hits apiece.

Sunday - Clemson 11-6

Zack Erwin got the start and his 5th win. He allowed six hits and three runs with one strikeout in 5 innings.

Clemson scored 5 in the 2nd. Boulware led off with a single and Kennedy reached on a bunt. After Krieger bunted them both up, McGibbon walked and Brittle singled to score Boulware. Slaton plated another with a groundout to 2nd, and freshman Maleeke Gibson doubled to score 2 more. Wilkerson doubled to score Gibson to end it.

Gibson, Duggar, Boulware, Krieger, and Brittle all had two hits apiece to pace Clemson's 14-hit attack. Gibson, Wilkerson, and Boulware added two runs apiece, while Gibson and Krieger totaled two RBIs apiece.