Terps Host Clemson in Key ACC Series
3/27/2008 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 27, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland baseball team looks to further jumble the baseball standings in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference this weekend when it hosts powerful Clemson University in a three-game series at Shipley Field.
Friday's series-opener will be played at 7 p.m., with Saturday's game at 4 p.m. and Sunday's getaway matchup at 1 p.m.
The Terrapins (13-11, 2-7), are currently tied for fifth place in the Atlantic Division. Maryland has won its last two games, though, getting mid-week victories at George Mason on Tuesday and over UMBC on Wednesday.
A series victory over the Tigers (16-7, 4-5) would jumble the divisional standings, as the Terps stand just two games behind Clemson in third place. Florida State, ranked as high as second in the nation in one poll, leads the Atlantic at 9-0, while Wake Forest is second at 4-4.
Maryland will send sophomore right-hander Scott Swinson to the mound in Friday's opener. Swinson, a transfer from George Washington University, defeated Wake Forest, 8-2, and third-ranked North Carolina, 4-2, in his last two starts, each coming in the series-opener against ACC competition. Swinson is 3-2 with a 4.24 ERA this season.
Jensen Pupa (0-3, 6.93) will follow Swinson to the mound on Saturday for Maryland, with Sunday's starter yet to be named.
Clemson is expected to counter with D.J. Mitchell (2-2, 3.24), Graham Stoneburner (4-0, 2.70) and Ryan Hinson (1-3, 5.28) as starting pitchers in the series.
Offensively, Maryland is off to a solid opening to the season, with four starters batting .300 or better. Senior Nick Jowers leads the team with a .329 batting average and with five stolen bases. Chad Durakis has 22 RBIs in 24 games for the Terrapins, while Mike Murphy leads with six home runs.
After dropping two games in a three-game set to Boston College, Clemson has been playing better in the past two weeks. the Tigers have won six of their last seven and are on a four-game roll, including a series win at home over NC State last weekend.
Stoneburner is the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week after tossing a two-hit shutout over NC State last Sunday.
All three games will be broadcast live on the Internet at WMUCSports.com.
