There are hitting streaks. There are hot streaks. Then, there is what Thomas Brittle has been up to over the past two weeks.
The College of Charleston transfer has been hitting as well as anyone in the Atlantic Coast Conference since Clemson’s April 3 meeting with Winthrop. Brittle is now in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, but that characterization does not even begin to describe the magnitude of his hot stretch at the plate.
Clemson's Scott Firth was summoned with two outs in the sixth inning and promptly struck out the first batter he faced. When all was said and done, he had recorded 19 outs, pitching 6.1 innings and getting a much-needed win for the Tigers. Photo by Rex Brown
By William Qualkinbush
CLEMSON — The role of a relief pitcher can fluctuate from game to game. Rarely, however, does his role entail throwing more innings than the starter in a game where only two pitchers are used.
But it was exactly the role that Clemson junior Scott Firth was called upon to play in Friday’s 7-6, 12-inning victory over N.C. State.
Clemson’s Jack Leggett made his message pretty clear to Daniel Gossett prior to last Tuesday’s game against Winthrop.
“We just told him to get people out in the first inning,” the Tigers’ head coach said. “We were tired of that other thing.”
By William Qualkinbush
CLEMSON — Winning games is tough. Winning series is tougher.
Both are expected of the Clemson Tiger baseball program, but neither come by accident. Often times, it takes productivity in key situations from veterans who have seen what it takes to experience success. So when Clemson clinched a series win over a top ten program in Miami with Saturday’s 3-1 win, it was no surprise that a pair of team leaders were right in the center of things.
Clemson's Steve Wilkerson celebrates scoring a run in the Tigers 3-1 victory over No. 7 Miami Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson. The Tigers took two of three games from Miami to win the weekend series. Photo by Dawson Powers
Clemson plays smart in winning series against No. 7 Miami
By William Qualkinbush
CLEMSON — Even in the years when the Clemson baseball program has featured starting lineups with major-league power hitters and
incredible depth, Head Coach Jack Leggett has insisted his program has always been built on pitching and defense.
By William Qualkinbush
CLEMSON — Jon McGibbon was not seeing as much playing time as he wanted. Clemson baseball coach Jack Leggett knew he needed the sophomore to provide something his team lacked. Both men knew something needed to change.
So while sitting in a Chick-Fil-A on the way down to Athens, GA for a game against the Georgia Bulldogs, the two had a conversation to share their concerns.
By Will Vandervort
ATHENS, Ga. — During a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday night at Georgia’s Foley Field, the University of Georgia marketing department played the video, “What do Tigers dream of when they take a little Tiger snooze?” from the movie “The Hangover.”
Well, at least on Tuesday night, they dreamed of scoring runs on the Bulldogs.
Clemson's Brad Felder had two home runs and brought in four runs for the Tigers in their weekend sweep of Boston College at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson. Photo by Rex Brown
By William Qualkinbush
CLEMSON — Clemson baseball coach Jack Leggett spoke of his team “getting back to ground zero” with a weekend series sweep over Boston College. It was a reference to his team reaching the .500 mark at 3-3 in the ACC, but it could very well have also been a referendum on outfielder Brad Felder’s first month as a Clemson Tiger.
The former standout at The Citadel has already seen his season come full circle. He started in eight of the first nine games in right field, then his struggles at the plate led to a five-game stretch where he saw only five at-bats.
