March 12, 2010

Complete Game Notes

Clemson vs. N.C. State

Clemson (10-1, 0-0 ACC), ranked as high as #7 in the nation, will host N.C. State (11-1, 0-0 ACC) to open ACC play in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. Game times are 4:00 PM (Friday), 2:00 PM (Saturday), and 1:00 PM (Sunday). All three games will be available live via webcast on TigerCast. All three games will also be broadcast live on the radio by Clemson Tiger Sports Network. Live stats will be available at ClemsonTigers.com for all three games as well.

The Series
Clemson and N.C. State have met 173 times, with the Tigers holding a 104-68-1 lead in the series dating back to 1921. Last year at N.C. State, Clemson swept the three-game series. In 2008 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Clemson won two of three games before the Wolfpack downed the Tigers 10-0 in the ACC Tournament.

The Tigers hold a 52-22-1 lead over the Wolfpack in games played at Clemson and a 39-14 lead at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers also hold a 82-54 advantage in ACC regular-season games.

Jack Leggett has a 38-18 record against N.C. State as Clemson's head coach, including an 18-5 mark at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Leggett was 7-18 against N.C. State as Western Carolina's head coach, meaning he has a 45-36 all-time record against the Wolfpack.

The Starting Pitchers
In game-one, N.C. State will start sophomore righthander Cory Mazzoni (2-0, 2.16 ERA) on the mound. The Evans City, PA native has made three starts for a total of 16.2 innings pitched. He has allowed 12 hits (.197 opponents' batting average), including only one extra-base hit, and nine walks with 18 strikeouts.

The Tigers will counter with junior lefty Casey Harman (2-0, 2.30 ERA) on Friday. The South Burlington, VT native has made three starts for a total of 15.2 innings pitched. He has allowed 13 hits (.220 opponents' batting average) and six walks with 14 strikeouts.

In game-two, the Wolfpack will send out junior righty Jake Buchanan (2-1, 1.77 ERA) on the mound. The Dallas, NC native has made four starts for a total of 20.1 innings pitched. He has yielded 11 hits (.157 opponents' batting average) and one walk with 15 strikeouts.

Clemson's starter for game-two on Saturday has yet to be determined.

N.C. State's starter for game-three on Sunday has yet to be determined.

The Tigers will start sophomore righty Scott Weismann (2-0, 2.93 ERA) on Sunday. The Boxborough, MA native has made three starts for a total of 15.1 innings pitched. He has given up 16 hits (.258 opponents' batting average) and three walks with 15 strikeouts.

The Wolfpack
N.C. State, led by 14th-year Head Coach Elliott Avent, enters the series at #7 Clemson with an 11-1 overall record after defeating North Carolina A&T 14-10 on Tuesday. N.C. State is also coming off a three-game sweep of Quinnipiac at home over the weekend. The Wolfpack's lone loss came at Coastal Carolina on February 28. N.C. State is 0-1 on opponents' home fields.

N.C. State is averaging a national-best 13.5 runs per game and hitting .392 with a .614 slugging percentage and .492 on-base percentage. The team has totaled 44 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, and 12 stolen bases.

Chris Schaeffer is hitting a team-best .483 with a .605 on-base percentage, while Dallas Poulk is hitting .457 with five doubles, one triple, three homers, and 23 RBIs. Pratt Maynard is hitting .455 and Kyle Wilson is hitting .426 with a team-high five steals. Andrew Ciencin has added a .417 batting average and 21 RBIs.

Wolfpack starting quarterback Russell Wilson is also a two-way player on the baseball squad. He is 8-for-20 (.400) with nine runs at the plate and has the team's lone save in 5.1 innings pitched over four relief appearances.

The pitching staff has a 4.99 ERA and .243 opponents' batting average along with 99 strikeouts against 64 walks in 110.0 innings pitched. Grant Sasser and Rob Chamra have combined for a 5-0 record and a 1.20 ERA in nine combined relief appearances this season. N.C. State is fielding at a .966 clip as well.

The Tigers
Clemson, ranked as high as #7 in the nation, enters the series against N.C. State with a 10-1 record after beating Gardner-Webb 13-2 on Thursday. The Tigers, who are 8-0 at home, also defeated #15 South Carolina twice in three games last weekend.

The Tigers are averaging 9.1 runs per game and hitting .302 with a .514 slugging percentage and .402 on-base percentage. Clemson has also totaled 24 doubles, 19 homers, and 17 stolen bases in 25 attempts.

Kyle Parker is hitting a team-high .405 with five homers, 13 RBIs, and 12 runs, while Jeff Schaus is batting .375 with three homers and a team-high 17 RBIs. Brad Miller is also hitting .366 with six doubles.

The pitching staff has a 2.97 ERA and .227 opponents' batting average. The staff has allowed 32 walks against 74 strikeouts, good for a 2.3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Sophomore righthander David Haselden has not given up a hit or run in 7.1 innings pitched over three relief appearances and has a 2-0 record. The Tigers are fielding at a .959 clip as well.

Haselden's New Year
Sophomore righthander David Haselden (Spartanburg, SC) made just seven appearances as a freshman in 2009. But this season, he has become one of Head Coach Jack Leggett's go-to pitchers out of the bullpen. In 7.1 innings pitched over three relief appearances, the 6'3", 225-pounder is 2-0 and has allowed no hits, no runs, and one walk with six strikeouts.

In his best outing of the season so far, Haselden entered a tie game against #15 South Carolina on March 5 and pitched the final 4.0 innings. He allowed no hits, no runs, and no walks with three strikeouts to earn the win in the Tigers' thrilling 4-3 victory.

In 25.0 innings pitched over 10 career appearances (two starts), he has is 3-0 with a 3.24 ERA and has allowed just two walks against 22 strikeouts, good for an 11.0-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Clemson Blasts Gardner-Webb 13-2
Behind three home runs and 12 hits, #7 Clemson blasted Gardner-Webb 13-2 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on March 11. Jeff Schaus hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Kyle Parker crushed a three-run home run in the second inning. Richie Shaffer added a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Parker had a team-high three hits, while Schaus had a double and three runs. The Tigers, who outhit Gardner-Webb 12-7, also took advantage of 10 walks by Bulldog pitchers. Starter Justin Sarratt allowed one earned run and four hits in 5.0 innings to earn the victory.