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Terps Play Host To Clemson This Weekend
April 19, 2012
Maryland (25-14, 7-11 ACC) vs Clemson (21-17, 9-9 ACC)Friday, April 20 (6 p.m.) | Saturday, April 21 (11 a.m.) | Saturday, April 21 (TBD - Approx. 2:30 p.m.) Schedule Change: Due to impending rain on Sunday, Maryland and Clemson will now play a doubleheader starting Saturday at 11 a.m. Game two of the doubleheader will begin approximately 30 minutes after the completion of game one. Alumni Reunion Info: Alumni from the last five decades - the classes of 1962, '72, '82, '92 and 2002 - will be honored between games one and two on Saturday. Alumni participating in that event are asked to check in at the 3rd-base grill area starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. Location: College Park, Md. Probable Pitching Matchups Leading Off... Coming off its second consecutive ACC series victory, Maryland plays host to Atlantic-Division rival Clemson this weekend. The Terps took two of three from Duke last weekend, winning Friday's game 4-2 on a walkoff home run by Michael Montville in the 10th inning, before pounding out a season-high 21 runs in Saturday's 21-2 win.
Maryland entered the week ranked eighth nationally with a 2.72 ERA, and saw that mark drop to an ACC-best 2.64 after Tuesday's 3-0 win over James Madison. That marked the ninth shutout this season for the Terps, which is a school record and is nearly twice as many as the next closest conference team (Florida State with five). Jimmy Reed, Brett Harman and David Carroll have been vital to the Terps winning each of their last two conference series. Over the last two weekends, that trio has combined for a 2.25 ERA in 44 innings pitched, with 28 strikeouts to just seven walks. Maryland has gotten an average of 7 1/3 innings per start from its rotation over that span, led by Reed's 8.5 IP/start. Reed has made a successful transition from closer to starter and will make his third consecutive Friday-night start this weekend. The junior lefty has allowed just three runs in 35 2/3 innings this year. The Terps have also seen a jump in their team batting average over the last 10 games, with Maryland registering a .283 mark over that span. Shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez hit .432 during that stretch to raise his season batting average to .288. The senior has a team-high 32 RBIs, four of which came in the 21-2 win over Duke last Saturday. Rodriguez was one of eight Terrapins with multiple RBIs and one of seven with multiple hits in that game. K.J. Hockaday continues to pace the Maryland offense with a .319 batting average that ranks third among all ACC freshmen. Tomo Delp has also helped key the offense with a team-high .531 slugging percentage and .462 on-base percentage. Follow the Terps Scouting Clemson... Richie Shaffer leads the team and ranks third in the ACC with a .390 batting average. The junior third baseman has a team-high 36 RBIs, 14 doubles and 8 home runs. His .520 on-base percentage leads the league, while his .684 slugging percentage ranks second. Clemson ranks 10th in the league with a .272 team batting average. Thomas Brittle (.339) and Steve Wilkerson are the other two Tigers hitting above .300. The Tiger pitching staff has a 3.54 ERA which ranks seventh in the league. Sunday starter Kevin Pohle ranks 10th in the conference with a 2.74 ERA, while Friday-night starter Kevin Brady is 14th with a 2.98 mark. Series history: Maryland trails the all-time series with Clemson, 40-111. The Tigers won two of three last year in Clemson and swept the series in College Park in 2010. Upcoming... |
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