Clemson Baseball preview vs. Maine |
The Tigers open their 119th season with a three-game home series against Maine starting Friday afternoon.
SERIES SETUP • Who - Maine (0-0) vs. Clemson (0-0) • Rankings - Maine - NR; Clemson - NR • When - Friday (4 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.), Sunday (1 p.m.) • Where - Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium) • Watch - TigerCast • Listen - TigerCast, WCCP (105.5 FM) • Live Stats - ClemsonTigers.com • Social Media - Twitter/Instagram (@ClemsonBaseball) • Tickets - ClemsonTigers.com, 1-800-CLEMSON • Promotion (all three games) - Family Four Pack - Purchase four tickets and a $10 concession voucher for only $20. • Promotion (Friday) - Baseball Trading Cards - The first 1,000 fans receive trading cards of their favorite players and coaches. SERIES HISTORY • Overall Record - Clemson leads 22-1 (1991-15) • Record at Clemson - Clemson leads 18-1 (1996-14) STARTING PITCHERS • Friday - RHP Justin Courtney (MAI) vs. LHP Charlie Barnes (CU) • Saturday - RHP Chris Murphy (MAI) vs. RHP Clate Schmidt (CU) • Sunday - RHP Jeff Gelinas (MAI) vs. LHP Jake Higginbotham (CU) CLEMSON OVERVIEW • Clemson had a 32-29 overall record and 16-13 ACC mark in 2015. Clemson won all three games against Maine in Augusta, Ga., in February 2015. • The Tigers, led by first-year head coach Monte Lee, return six of nine position starters and 32 percent of their innings pitched from 2015. • Clemson begins the season with a seven-game homestand, then plays 19 of its next 29 games away from home. MAINE OVERVIEW • Maine is led by 11th-year head coach Steve Trimper. • The Black Bears had a 24-28 overall record and 10-10 America East Conference mark in 2015. • Maine is playing its third three-game series in the Palmetto State the past three years and fourth in the past five years. QUICK HITS • This is Clemson’s latest start to a season since 2010 (also started on February 19). • Last year’s series against Maine was moved from Clemson to Augusta, Ga., due to unplayable field conditions. • Of Clemson’s 61 starts on the mound last season, only nine were made by Tigers on the 2016 team. PRESEASON HONORS • Eleven Tigers earned preseason recognition. See the list below. #23 CHARLIE BARNES, LHP • No. 20 ACC prospect for the 2017 draft by D1Baseball #28 Seth Beer, OF/1B • No. 13 freshman in the nation and No. 3 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball • No. 32 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game • No. 7 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by Perfect Game #37 Alex Bostic, LHP • No. 102 college prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball • No. 21 ACC prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball • No. 23 ACC prospect for the 2016 draft by Perfect Game #44 Ryley Gilliam, RHP • No. 94 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game #24 JAKE HIGGINBOTHAM, LHP • No. 58 freshman in the nation and No. 10 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game • No. 65 freshman in the nation by D1Baseball • No. 77 college prospect for the 2017 draft by D1Baseball • No. 10 ACC prospect for the 2017 draft by Baseball America • No. 16 ACC prospect for the 2017 draft by D1Baseball #25 Chris Okey, C • Golden Spikes Award Watch List member • First-team All-American by Baseball America and Perfect Game • Second-team All-American by College Sports Madness, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball and NCBWA • First-team All-ACC by College Sports Madness and Perfect Game • No. 19 college prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball • No. 25 prospect for the 2016 draft by Baseball America • No. 20 junior in the nation by Perfect Game • No. 3 catcher in the nation by D1Baseball • No. 4 ACC prospect for the 2016 draft by Baseball America and Perfect Game • No. 5 ACC prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball • No. 1 defensive catcher in the ACC by Baseball America #5 Chase Pinder, OF/INF • No. 58 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game #26 Reed Rohlman, OF/1B • Second-team All-American by NCBWA • First-team All-ACC by College Sports Madness and Perfect Game #32 CLATE SCHMIDT, RHP • No. 243 college prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball #4 Eli White, INF • No. 72 prospect for the 2016 draft by Baseball America • No. 165 college prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball • No. 13 ACC prospect for the 2016 draft by Baseball America • No. 29 ACC prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball • No. 1 defensive shortstop and No. 1 infield arm in the ACC by Baseball America #8 Weston Wilson, INF • No. 234 college prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball • No. 38 ACC prospect for the 2016 draft by D1Baseball DKS RENOVATIONS • Doug Kingsmore Stadium underwent renovations during and after the 2015 season to keep it among the best facilities in the country. • A new $9 million baseball facility was constructed behind the first-base dugout. • The three-story building houses a spacious lockerroom, auditorium, lounge, equipment room and coaches offices among other amenities. • A grass berm was created behind the third-base grandstand in what was an area outside the gates of Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
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