OFFICIAL SEASON OPENER THREAD: #12 CLEMSON vs William & Mary

CUTrevor 2018-02-15 14:45:50


CLEMSON, S.C. - The Tigers begin their 121st season with a three-game home series against William & Mary this weekend.

SERIES SETUP
• Who - William & Mary (0-0) vs. Clemson (0-0)
• Best Ranking - W&M - NR; CU - No. 12 Baseball America
• Where - Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium)
• Watch - ACC Network Extra (Friday, Saturday)
• Video Announcers - Kyle Parker, Pete Yanity
• Listen - TigerCast, Clemson Tigers Network
• Live Stats - ClemsonTigers.com
• Social Media - ClemsonBaseball
• Promotion (Friday) - The first 1,000 fans receive an Assa Abloy Rally Towel
• Promotion (Saturday) - Scout Day - All local scouts are invited to join us at the ballpark, as special ticket packages are available.
• Promotion (Saturday) - Young fans can enjoy inflatables, face painting, standing on the field during the national anthem and running the bases after the game.
• Promotion (Sunday) - Tiger players are available for autographs postgame.

SERIES HISTORY
• Overall Record - Clemson leads 5-1 (2000-13)
• Record at Clemson - Clemson leads 5-1 (2000-13)

STARTING PITCHERS
• Friday - LHP Bodie Sheehan (W&M) vs. LHP Jacob Hennessy (CU)
• Saturday - RHP Jamie Sara (W&M) vs. RHP Brooks Crawford (CU)
• Sunday - RHP Jacob Haney (W&M) vs. LHP Jake Higginbotham (CU)

CLEMSON OVERVIEW
• Clemson had a 42-21 overall record and 17-13 ACC mark in 2017.
• The Tigers, led by third-year head coach Monte Lee, return players who accounted for 46 of the 2017 team's 73 home runs.
• Clemson begins the season with an eight-game homestand and plays 17 of its first 20 games at home.

WILLIAM & MARY OVERVIEW
• William & Mary is led by fifth-year head coach Brian Murphy.
• The Tribe had a 32-25 overall record and 15-8 CAA mark, good for third place, in 2017.
• William & Mary returns 16 of its 19 position players and 10 of its 16 pitchers from the 2017 team.

QUICK HITS
• No current Tiger started a game on the mound in 2017.
• The last time Clemson won a season opener was Feb. 15, 2013, when the Tigers defeated  William & Mary 2-0 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
• Head coach Monte Lee has 42+ wins each of the last four seasons, one of only four head coaches in the nation who can make that claim.

POLLS
• Clemson is ranked as high as No. 12 by Baseball America in the preseason.
• Clemson has been ranked in the top 25 by at least one poll for 27 straight weeks dating to 2016.

PRESEASON HONORS
• Eighteen Tigers earned preseason recognition. See the list below.

#28 SETH BEER, 1B/OF
• National player-of-the-year by Collegiate Baseball
• National field player-of-the-year by College Sports Madness
Golden Spikes Award Watch List
First-team All-American by Baseball America, College Sports Madness, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball and Perfect Game
Second-team All-American by NCBWA
No. 20 college prospect for the 2018 draft by Baseball America and College Sports Madness
No. 32 college prospect for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball
No. 35 college prospect for the 2018 draft by Perfect Game
No. 1 first baseman in the nation by D1Baseball
No. 2 corner infielder prospect for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball
No. 32 junior in the nation by Perfect Game
ACC player-of-the-year by Baseball America and D1Baseball
First-team All-ACC by Perfect Game
No. 3 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by Baseball America
No. 5 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball
No. 7 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by Perfect Game

#48 BRYCE BOWEN, LHP/1B
No. 304 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 57 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game

#26 MATT COOPER, C/OF/1B
No. 247 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 48 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game

#8 LOGAN DAVIDSON, SS
No. 11 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 5 shortstop in the nation by D1Baseball
No. 5 college prospect for the 2019 draft by D1Baseball
First-team All-ACC by Perfect Game
No. 1 ACC prospect for the 2019 draft by Perfect Game
No. 2 ACC prospect for the 2019 draft by Baseball America
No. 2 ACC prospect for the 2019 draft by D1Baseball

#51 DREW DONATHAN, C
No. 115 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game

#44 RYLEY GILLIAM, RHP
NCBWA Stopper-of-the-Year Watch List
No. 87 college prospect for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball
No. 74 junior in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 14 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by Perfect Game
No. 15 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball
No. 16 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by Baseball America

#40 OWEN GRIFFITH, RHP
No. 21 ACC prospect for the 2019 draft by D1Baseball

#5 SAM HALL, INF/OF
No. 116 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 22 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game
No. 33 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball

#17 JUSTIN HAWKINS, INF
No. 27 third baseman in the nation by D1Baseball

#45 HOLT JONES, RHP
No. 136 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game

#16 BO MAJKOWSKI, OF
No. 201 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 40 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game

#1 KIER MEREDITH, OF
No. 39 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 3 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
No. 4 freshman in the ACC by Baseball America
No. 8 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game
No. 8 ACC prospect for the 2020 draft by Perfect Game

#30 MITCHELL MILLER, LHP
No. 66 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 13 ACC prospect for the 2019 draft by D1Baseball
No. 15 ACC prospect for the 2019 draft by Perfect Game

#35 RYAN MILLER, RHP
No. 18 senior in the nation by Perfect Game
One of the top-75 seniors in the nation by D1Baseball
No. 43 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball

#29 SPENCER STRIDER, RHP
No. 28 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 3 freshman in the ACC by Baseball America
No. 5 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game
No. 26 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball
No. 7 ACC prospect for the 2020 draft by Perfect Game

#31 BRYCE TEODOSIO, OF
No. 113 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game

#22 SAM WEATHERLY, LHP/OF/1B
No. 23 freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
No. 11 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game
No. 16 freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball

#27 CHRIS WILLIAMS, C/INF
Second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball
No. 5 catcher in the nation by D1Baseball
No. 6 senior in the nation by Perfect Game
One of the top-75 seniors in the nation by D1Baseball
No. 20 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by Baseball America
No. 24 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball
No. 29 ACC prospect for the 2018 draft by Perfect Game

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 14:40:31


Sophomore lefty Jacob Hennessy will get his first career start tonight. Beer will start in right, Chris Williams at first and sophomore Kyle Wilkie behind the plate. Robert Jolly is the DH. Starting in center in place of former All-ACC CF Chase Pinder will be freshman Bryce Teodosio, the star from Mauldin High in Simpsonville.



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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:21:06





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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:21:35



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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:21:59



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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:25:39


Tigers go 1-2-3 in the 2nd. Beer is the only base runner so far eith a 2-out standup double in the 1st.

SCORELESS AFTER 2.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:29:14


Hennessy K's the first batter of 3rd but gives up a one-out double.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:29:57


Man on 3rd with 2 outs now for W&M.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:39:07


Hennessy gets out of the jam, book-ending the 3rd with K's! He now has 4 in his first career start. Jordan Greene leads off the 3rd, followed by Teodosio and then leadoff man Logan Davidson.

STILL SCORELESS M3.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:53:23


Tigers go 1-2-3 again in 3rd.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:53:50

Hennessy strands em at 2nd & 3rd with a big K and a grounder after back-to-back singles and a passed ball. STILL SCORELESS M4. Wharton, Beer & Williams due up!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 15:59:55


Williams drew a 2-out walk but nothing else in the 4th. Beer hit a sky-high infield fly. He still has the Tigers' only hit with his 2-out standup double in the 1st.

STILL SCORELESS AFTER 4.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:15:58


Hennessy's day is done after a 1-out, 3-run HR broke the deadlock. 2nd straight inning the Tribe had 2nd & 3rd with one out, and this time they cashed in. Ryan Miller in from pen with 2 outs. 


TIGERS TRAIL 3-0 TOP 5.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:16:26


Miller retired the final batter of the 5th.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:17:18


Tigers go 1-2-3 yet again in 5th. Really struggling at the plate today. They have started slow for years, though, losing their last 3 season openers!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:28:03


Miller goes 1-2-3 in 6th. Nine hitter Teodosio leads off then Davidson, Wharton and Beer.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:32:29


Tigers' bats finally waking up in 6th! Freshman 9-hitter Teodosio ripped a single into left to lead off, followed by a Davidson single. CU had one hit in first 5 innings. Wharton up, Beer on Deck w/ corners & no outs!


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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:33:42


Davidson caught stealing at 2nd, but Wharton sac flies Teodosio in for Tigers' first run of season. 2 down with nobody on for Beer.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:34:07


Beer flies out to end the inning.

TIGERS TRAIL 3-1 AFTER 6.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:48:26


Ugh Miller gives up a leadoff single and then a one-out double to make it 4-1 Tribe. A good throw to the plate would have had him.

TIGERS TRAIL 4-1 AT THE STRETCH.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:57:47


Williams, Jolly and Byrd go 1-2-3 in the 7th. Ouch!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 16:58:38


Miller gets the first 2 outs of the 8th, and lefty Huggins comes in to try to close the inning with no one on.


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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:02:31


Huggins gets a K to end the 8th. Wilkie, Greene and Teodosio due up in the bottom half, followed by leadoff man Davidson.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:04:49


Wilkie flies out. Patrick Cromwell pinch hitting for Greene. 

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:05:26


Cromwell grounds out. 9-hitter Teodosio up with 2 down. He line drive singled last time up.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:16:05


Teodosio flied out on a full count to end the 8th. Tigers go 1-2-3 again.

TIGERS TRAIL 4-1 HEADED TO 9TH.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:16:46


Spiers in to pitch the 9th.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:17:45


Spiers gives up a 2-out single up the middle after striking out the first two.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:19:13


Spiers strikes out the side! TIGERS TRAIL 4-1 M9.

Top of lineup for Tigers: Davidson, Wharton and Beer followed by Williams if anyone reaches.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:25:07


Davidson led the inning with a single, but Wharton hit into a double play. Tigers down to last out with Beer.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:25:54


Beer hit by pitch. Lol I think he led the nation in walks and HBP last year, so that's fitting for the opener.

2 down with one on for Williams.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:28:39


Williams doubles! Tigers still alive with 2nd and 3rd for Jolly.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:30:12


Jolly check swing single scores 2!!! 4-3 with 2 down for Byrd, the winning run at the plate!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:35:19


Tying run Jolly steals 2nd!!! Byrd intentionallly walked, Wilkie up with winning run at 1st and 2 down in 9th!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:36:49


Wilkie has worked the count full and fought off a couple fouls!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:41:13


WILKIE WALKS THE BASES LOADED!!! Great at bat, fighting off foul balls with the count full. Tying run on 3rd, winning run on 2nd with 2 outs for pinch hitter Cromwell! Pitching change for Tribe.


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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:46:52


TIGERS TIE ON WILD PITCH!!! Byrd represents winning run on 3rd for Cromwell with full count and 2 outs! First base is empty.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:48:06


Ugh Cromwell strikes out to end the 9th but what a 2-out rally by Tigers with the bases empty in the 9th, scoring 3 runs to tie! Closer Gilliam is on the hill. Into extras we go!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 17:55:04


Gilliam strikes out the side, but the last strike gets by Wilkie, and the batter advances to 1st. One on with 2 down in 10th.

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 18:02:16


Gilliam gets a fly to end the 10th!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 18:07:18


THE FRESHMAN DELIVERS!!! Leadoff standup double for Teodosio's 2nd hit of the game! Leadoff man Davidson up with Wharton & Beer on deck! 

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 18:07:39


Teodosio to 3rd on a ground out by Davidson!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 18:08:32


Wharton HBP and Beer predictably intentionally walked. Williams up with one down and winning run on 3rd!

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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 18:24:45


WILLIAMS DELIVERS!!! With the bases loaded and one out, the frequent hero from 2017 who missed the end of the season with injury drives in the freshman Teodosio. Tigers win their season opener for the first time in 4 years in dramatic fashion!



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CUTrevor 2018-02-16 19:06:53








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