Overview:
The 2015 Clemson-Carolina baseball series went well for the Tigers, who outscored the Gamecocks 19-5 and won games in both Clemson and Columbia. Both teams are very different this season, however, and are off to hot starts. As always, it should be a very competitive series between the two Palmetto State rivals.
Clemson
Record: 6-1
Offense:
The Tiger offense has been explosive since their only loss on Opening Day to Maine, outscoring opponents 62-10 while batting .324 as a team. Among those leading the charge are second baseman Weston Wilson, shortstop Eli White and outfielders Seth Beer, Chase Pinder and Reed Rohlman. Wilson and Rohlman have been base hit machines, each hitting above the .400 mark on the young season, while Beer is not too far behind with a
.375 average.
Production has been consistent all throughout the lineup as well, with all but one Tiger getting a hit thus far. The team has not been short on power, either, as Beer and catcher Chris Okey have hit two home runs apiece, while Pinder has already left the yard
three times.
Pitching:
On the other side of the ball, the Tiger pitching staff has been phenomenal. As a team, they have held opponents to a .206 batting average and only 14 runs. Charlie Barnes and Clate Schmidt have been dominant in their respective Friday and Saturday roles, greatly exceeding preseason expectations.
The work of the Tiger relievers has been outstanding as well, pitching to a 0.64 ERA in 28 innings so far this season. With guys like Alex Eubanks, Ryley Gilliam, Pat Krall, Brooks Crawford and Alex Bostic out in the bullpen, coach Monte Lee has plenty of options to turn to late in the game.
South Carolina Record: 9-0
Offense:
Much like the Tigers, the Gamecocks have been feasting on opposing pitchers so far this season, hitting .341 with seven home runs.
Catcher John Jones has been leading the charge for the Gamecocks and was named Collegiate Player of the Week after reaching base in all fourteen of his plate appearances in the series against Penn State.
Infielders Jonah Bride and Marcus Mooney have also been swinging hot bats, as has junior college transfer Dom Thompson Williams, who is slugging .543 so far in 2016.
Pitching:
The Gamecock pitching staff has been very successful thus far as well, thanks to the near-perfect outings from their starters.
Clarke Schmidt has only allowed four hits and one run in his thirteen innings pitched, and will likely face the Tigers on Friday night.
Braden Webb and Taylor Widener have been tough on hitters as well, allowing just two runs apiece in their combined four starts. Schmidt and Widener each threw against the Tigers when the two teams met in 2015, combining to allow seven hits and three runs over 4.2 innings pitched.
Josh Reagan has been a force out of the bullpen as well, and will likely come in to try and shut the down the Tigers if the Gamecocks have the lead late in the game.
