Clemson Baseball: On Deck – Georgia Bulldogs

I’ve gotta be honest for a second.  When I started writing these Clemson baseball opponent previews, right around the time of the winning streak of 14 games ending, I never thought the team would be 4-9 since.

However, also since I have started this, my predictions have been pretty darn accurate.  Predicted 9-3 over Winthrop in the first meeting, it was 10-3.  Predicting 10-2 in the second meeting versus Winthrop, and it ended at 9-3.

Now that the patting myself on the back is almost over, I was very wrong in my prediction of the series versus Pitt in which was shortened by a game because of weather and Pitt won both games.  However, this past weekend, I did predict NC State to win the series 2 games to 1 and that was correct.

Now I will say as a precursor, and probably a little foreshadowing.  I DESPISE picking against Clemson in any sport.  It is nearly impossible for me to do.  However, one of the reasons I have been tasked to do this column is because I have had a knack of finding a reason for every opponent, regardless of sport, to be able to beat Clemson.  So I wanted to dig a little deeper, scout the upcoming opponents, look at statistics and let our fellow Tiger fans know what to look forward to.  With that being said, the mid-week opponent this week is the Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia is 22-6 on the season, and ranked as high as 13th according to numerous polls, and 3rd in RPI.  This is a really good baseball team coming into Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday night.

Fresh off a sweep of rival University of Florida over the weekend, there is no real soft spots in the lineup at all.

Georgia is led by 9th Year Head Coach Scott Stricklin.  Stricklin has brought the Dawgs back to prominence the last few years and this year has a very good squad who will try to vie for (a loaded) Southeastern Conference title.

Georgia’s 22 wins have come against: Albany (x3), Wofford (x2), Akron (x3), Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern (x2), Lipscomb (x3), USC Upstate, Mississippi State (x2), Georgia State, Kentucky and Florida (x3).

Their 6 losses have come by way of: Georgia Tech (x2), Georgia Southern, Mississippi State, and Kentucky (x2).

These Bulldogs are 17-2 at the comfy confines of Foley Field in Athens, Georgia, 2-3 in true road games, and 3-1 at neutral site contests.

Where we saw the youthful exuberance from NC State this past weekend, loaded with Freshmen and Sophomores, Georgia is full of upperclassmen with just a few of the younger guys sprinkled in.  This is a very veteran-laden Bulldog squad.

Leading the offense for the Bulldogs is leadoff hitter and Graduate student, Ben Anderson.  The Centerfielder is the “straw that stirs the drink” for the Dawgs.  Currently hitting .371 with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 19 runs batted in.  He’s slugging .619 and has an OPS of 1.123.  Oh, and when he runs, he’s not been caught at a perfect 5-5 in stolen bases.

Another notable Dawg is left fielder is Graduate student Connor Tate, who raised his average to .370 after having just a tremendous week at the dish, and comes into Tuesday night’s game on a 9-game hitting streak.  Tate is hitting .370 with 10 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, has 26 RBIs and has an OPS of 1.082 on the season.

Connor’s twin brother mans the shortstop position and he’s yet another on this very potent offensive team that can hurt you.  Hitting .350, with 3 doubles, 2 triples and a home run.  OPS of .864.

The rest of the Georgia probables look like this (with notable stats in parentheses):

Sophomore Catcher – Corey Collins – .290 BA; 1.017 OPS (7 HRs; 23 RBI)

Freshman Designated Hitter – Cole Wagner – .304; .890 (3 HRs)

Redshirt Senior Third Baseman – Josh McAllister – .316; .867 (7 2Bs; 3 HRs; 22 RBIs)

Graduate Right Fielder – Chaney Rogers – .272; .695

Sophomore First Baseman – Parks Harbor – .239; .706 (4 HRs; 23 RBIs)

Senior Second Baseman – Cory Acton – .239; .706

One notable state that stands out for the entire team is that they do not run very much.  Currently 12-15 on the season.

Georgia has been a really interesting study on the mound this season.  There is one clear starter and that is Junior Right-hander Jonathan Cannon.  The Tigers won’t have to worry about facing Cannon (6-1; 1.71 ERA) but they will likely have Sophomore Hank Bearden on the bump Tuesday night.

Bearden is a 6’0” right hander with a record of 1-0; 1.17 ERA across 5 appearances and 7.2 Innings.

Now the innings you just saw may make you turn your head sideways.  The Bulldogs have started 5 different pitchers across their 7 mid-week games on the season.  Not one of those pitchers has lasted more than 3 innings.  Through the first four of the games, a starter didn’t go more than 1 ⅔ innings.  So, as the major leagues will use “openers” or have a “bullpen game,” it seems that Coach Stricklin is doing that with his pitching staff as well.

The other option for the Bulldogs on Tuesday night would be 6’7” Freshman Coleman Willis.  Willis has started 3 mid-week games on the season, has a 6.75 ERA across 10.2 innings.  Bearden gave the Dawgs a good outing versus Georgia Southern a week ago, and will likely be the choice Tuesday night,

Georgia is a really good baseball team.  Coming off the huge series sweep versus Florida has this team coming to Clemson with a ton of momentum, and some really good bats as well.

Clemson will likely start Freshman Billy Barlow, who has had a good freshman campaign for the Tigers with not a lot to show for it. (0-2; 5.16 ERA).  Barlow threw well a week ago versus Winthrom but did give up a gargantuan home run to the Eagles first baseman Dillon Morton.

The Tigers look to bounce back from 2 straight losses to NC State over the weekend.  This will be no easy task.

Remember what I said earlier about picking against the Tigers?  I HATE IT!

Prediction: Georgia 8 – Clemson 4