CUTigers

OFFICIAL GAME THREAD: #10 CLEMSON at Coastal Carolina

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 12:17:21

CLEMSON, S.C. - The Tigers begin their Spring Break trip with a game at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday night.

GAME SETUP

• Who - Clemson (16-4) vs. Coastal Carolina (15-7)

• Best Rankings - CU - No. 10 CB; CCU - NR

• When - Tuesday (6 p.m.)

• Where - Conway, S.C. (Springs Brooks Stadium)

• Listen - TigerCast, Clemson Tigers Network

• Live Stats - ClemsonTigers.com

• Social Media - ClemsonBaseball

SERIES HISTORY

• Overall Record - Clemson leads 44-9 (1986-17)

• Record at Coastal Carolina -Clemson leads 10-3 (1986-15)

STARTING PITCHERS

• RHP Holt Jones (CU) vs. RHP Anthony Simonelli (CCU)

CLEMSON OVERVIEW

• Clemson was swept at home by No. 10 NC State last weekend

• The Tigers are averaging 6.1 runs per game and hitting .257 with a .378 on-base percentage and 11 steals.

• The pitching staff has a 3.02 ERA, .231 opponents’ batting average and 2.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio and Clemson is fielding .976.

COASTAL CAROLINA OVERVIEW

• Coastal Carolina is led by 23rd-year head coach Gary Gilmore.

• The Chanticleers swept Arkansas State by a combined score of 37-18. They are hitting .300 and have a 4.28 ERA and .970 fielding percentage.

• Zach Biermann is hitting .342 with six homers and 21 RBIs, while Kevin Woodall Jr., is batting .287 with nine homers and 29 RBIs.

QUICK HITS

• Clemson has played 17 of its first 20 games at home. Only 16 of its last 36 regular-season games are at home.

• Clemson is holding opponents to a .190 batting average with runners in scoring position.

• Clemson's bullpen has a 2.69 ERA this season.

BEER HAS 40 CAREER HOME RUNS

• Junior Seth Beer had 18 homers in 2016, 16 in 2017 and has six home runs in 2018, meaning he has 40 career homers.

• He is hitting .254 with six homers, two doubles, 12 RBIs, 19 runs, a .435 on-base percentage and a steal in 20 games in 2018.

• He hit one home run in each of the three games of the Georgia Tech series on March 9,10.

• He has reached base via a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch in 19 of the 20 games in 2018.

• In his career, he is hitting .322 with 32 doubles, a triple, 40 homers, 135 RBIs, 127 runs and a .496 on-base percentage in 145 games.

• He has 145 career walks, sixth most in Clemson history, while his one walk every 3.37 at-bats is first in Tiger history.

• He has reached base in 139 of his last 143 games with a plate appearance.

• He has reached via a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch in 86 of his 88 career games with a plate appearance against ACC (70) and SEC (16) teams.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 17:27:24

They are in a rain delay in Conway, guys. I'll keep you posted!

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 17:58:30

Scheduled start time now 8:00.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:17:46

They are now saying 8:30...

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:36:26

Finally underway after a 2 and a half hour rain delay. Davidson hit by a pitch to lead off.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:39:21

Beer is back to batting second. Lol I asked Monte about moving him to 3rd last week, and he said he thought the change would allow him to drive in some runs with Davidson and Cromwell getting on base in front of him. That logic made sense, but it didn't work out that way. Beer had a miserable series against NC State, going 1 for his last 11 with a couple walks. Monte tried him in the 3 hole and clean up, but now he's back to 2nd, where he was for most of the season. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:39:46

Beer walks! 2 on for Cromwell with no outs.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:40:21

Cromwell strikes out looking. 2 on for Williams with one out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:42:31

Ugh Williams strikes out looking. Apparently this pitcher has found his control after a HBP and a walk.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:45:05

Byrd grounds out to strand 2.

SCORELESS M1.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:49:26

Leadoff man on for Coastal due to catcher interference. It's Wilkie behind the plate again tonight with Williams at 1st. Monte told me the other day that Williams isn't physically ready to be behind the plate regularly yet.

Jolly is in left with Cooper at DH.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:50:19

Good grief, botched pick off attempt by Jones sends the runner to 3rd with no outs. Awful start!

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:55:45

Lol Jones walks the batter and a run scores on the wild pitch. To recap: the run scored on catcher's interference, botched pick-off and a wild pitch. Ugliest run ever! One on with no outs for Coastal.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:56:08

Ground out moves the runner to second. RISP with one out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 19:56:26

Jones gets a K looking for the second out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:04:23

Jones gets another K looking to end the inning. Good finish after the horrendous start. Ugly start for both pitchers, actually, and both finished with 2 K's.

TIGERS TRAIL 1-0 AFTER ONE.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:05:20

JOLLY LEADOFF HOMER TIES IT!!! His first HR of the season after going 0-4 in the loss Sunday!

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:06:09

Wharton double! RISP for Wilkie with no outs.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:06:39

Wilkie grounds out, Wharton stays put. RISP for Cooper with one out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:07:17

Cooper HBP. Second one in 2 innings by the Coastal pitcher. 2 on for Davidson.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:07:49

Ugh Wharton picked off at 2nd. One on with two outs for Davidson.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:08:18

Davidson grounds out to end the inning.

TIED 1-1 M2.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:15:41

Jones in trouble again after a one-out walk and a single. 2nd and 3rd.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:16:30

Jones gives up another single and a run. Coastal up 2-1 with corners and one out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:19:20

3rd consecutive single puts Coastal up 3-1.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:20:11

Sac bunt scores another run. Coastal leads 4-1 with 2 on and 2 outs.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:20:45

Marr in for Jones with 2 outs.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:26:38

Grounder finally ends the inning.

TIGERS TRAIL 4-1 AFTER 2.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:31:21

Beer, Cromwell and Williams go 1-2-3.

TIGERS TRAIL 4-1 M3.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:43:26

Marr gives up a leadoff triple and a single for another run.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:44:27

Strike out, runner caught stealing 2nd. Two outs with nobody on.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:45:04

Infield fly ends the inning.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 AFTER 3.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:47:38

Byrd, Jolly and Wharton go 1-2-3.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 M4.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:55:16

Marr goes 1-2-3 with a K in the 4th.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 AFTER 4.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 20:55:51

New pitcher for Coastal to start the 5th.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:00:15

Wilkie, Cooper and Davidson go 1-2-3. Third straight inning without a base runner.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 M5.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:00:16

Wilkie, Cooper and Davidson go 1-2-3. Third straight inning without a base runner.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 M5.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:03:08

Marr gives up a leadoff single.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:06:44

Another single. 2 on with one out. Coastal has 7 hits already.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:11:29

Grounder for second out. Corners for Coastal.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:12:19

Coastal caught in a run down, runner out at the plate. Marr gets out of the jam.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 AFTER 5.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:16:02

Beer flies out. He's 1 for his last 13 now. He does have a few walks over that stretch, including one tonight.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:17:21

Cromwell flies out, Williams strikes out looking. Man, peaks and valleys with this team! 4th straight inning without a base runner.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 M6.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:30:21

Marr gives up a 2-out single but nothing else.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 AFTER 6.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:31:12

Jolly draws a one-out walk. Wharton up with Wilkie on deck.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:32:40

Wharton strikes out and Wilkie grounds out to end the inning.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 AT THE STRETCH.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:41:01

Clark comes in for Marr with one out and nobody on in the 7th.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:41:58

Clark gets a K, but batter reaches 1st on a wild pitch.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:42:45

Fielder's choice at 2nd. Man on 1st with 2 outs.

Spiers in from pen.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:45:02

Spiers gets a grounder to end the inning.

TIGERS TRAIL 5-1 AFTER 7.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:55:29

Freshman Weatherly pinch hits for Cooper and grounds out on a full count.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:56:05

Davidson singles. Beer up with one out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:56:35

Beer singles! Hope that breaks his slump. 2 on with one out for Cromwell.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:57:37

Cromwell RBI single! It's about time! First run since Jolly's leadoff homer in the 2nd. Tigers trail 5-2 with corners and one out for Williams. A homer to tie sure would be nice right now!

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 21:58:56

I CALLED IT!!! Lol WILLIAMS HOMER TIES IT!!! His 5th of the season!

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:02:09

New pitcher for Coastal with one out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:04:11

Byrd strikes out swinging. 2 outs for Jolly.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:07:04

Jolly walks. 2 outs for Wharton.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:08:50

Wharton infield fly ends the inning.

TIED 5-5 M8.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:14:35

Spiers gets a K and a ground out followed by a 2-out single.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:17:30

Foul out ends the inning!

TIED 5-5 HEADED TO 9TH.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:23:16

Wilkie flies out.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:24:08

Hawkins pinches for Weatherly and grounds out. 2 down for Davidson.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:24:38

Davidson grounds out, Tigers go 1-2-3.

TIED 5-5 M9.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:29:06

CRAP Spiers gives up a leadoff double!

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:29:54

Intentional walk gives Tigers the force.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:30:59

Ryan Miller in for Spiers. Miller has been the most consistent reliever for the Tigers. He's in a big spot here! Expect a sac bunt with no outs.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:34:32

Good grief Miller walks the bases loaded on 4 straight balls. Will be a miracle if he gets out of this! He'll need back to back K's or a shallow fly. Winning run 90 feet away with no outs.

CUTrevor 2018-03-20 22:39:02

GRAND. SLAM. Wow I guess I jinxed the crap out of Miller. He comes in and gives up a walk on 4 balls and a game-winning grand slam. Unbelievable! Game-tying 3-run homer by Williams in the 8th is wasted.

4th straight loss after winning 8 straight and starting 16-1!

TIGERS LOSE 9-5.

CUTrevor 2018-03-21 08:41:28

CONWAY, S.C. - Lee Sponseller hit a walkoff grand slam in the ninth inning to lift Coastal Carolina to a 9-5 win over No. 10 Clemson at Springs Brooks Stadium on Tuesday night. The Chanticleers took a 1-0 lead in the home-and-home season series and improved to 16-7 overall, while the Tigers fell to 16-5. It was Gary Gilmore's 900th win as head coach at Coastal Carolina and only Clemson's second midweek loss in Monte Lee's third season as head coach.

Robert Jolly, a native of nearby Myrtle Beach, S.C., blasted his second career homer and first of 2018 when he went deep with a solo home run down the right-field line in the top of the second inning. The Chanticleers responded with three runs on three singles in the bottom of the second inning, then they added a run in the third inning to build a 5-1 lead.

In the eighth inning, Logan Davidson, Seth Beer and Patrick Cromwell hit singles, then Chris Williams crushed a three-run homer, his fifth long ball of the year, to tie the score 5-5. But Cory Wood led off the ninth inning with a double. Two walks loaded the bases with no outs before Sponseller belted a grand slam over the wall in right-center.

Jay Causey (1-0) earned the win by tossing 1.2 hitless and scoreless innings, while Carson Spiers (1-1) suffered the loss.

The Tigers, who host Coastal Carolina on April 3, leave the state of South Carolina for the first time in 2018 when they travel to Louisville, Ky., to take on No. 11 Louisville in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m., on ACC Network Extra.