Clemson (34-24) opens play in the 2019 Oxford Regional against Illinois (36-19) today. First pitch from Swayze Field is set for 4:00PM and is set to be televised by ESPNU. The Tigers will be the designated visiting team in the contest and will be in the third-base dugout.
The Series
| Meetings: | 3 (first met in 1970) |
| Series Record: | Clemson leads 3-0 |
| Record at Neutral: | N/A |
| Last Meeting(s): | Clemson won 9-3 at the 2000 Clemson Regional |
| vs. Lee: | N/A |
NCAA Tournament Notes
| Clemson is making its 44th NCAA Tournament appearance (11th consecutive and 32 of the last 33 years). All-time the Tigers are 120-93 (.563) in the NCAA Tournament with a 57-54 (.514) record at neutral sites. |
| Illinois is making its 12th NCAA Tournament appearance. All-time the Fighting Illini are 17-21 (.447) in the NCAA Tournament with a 10-11 (.476) record neutral sites. |
| The Tigers have previously faced a current Big Ten team seven times in NCAA Tournament play. Clemson is 3-4 in those contests, including a 2-4 mark at neutral sites. |
| The Fighting Illini have previously faced a current ACC team nine times in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois is 4-5 in those contests, including a 2-4 mark at neutral sites. |
Quick Hits
| Clemson is 4-6 all-time on May 31 with an 1-5 mark at neutral sites. |
| The Tigers and Illinois have two common opponents: Coastal Carolina and Wake Forest. Clemson swept a home-and-home series from Coastal Carolina (8-5, 14-) and won two of three home games from Wake Forest (4-3, 10-9, 5-14) while Illinois lost a game at Coastal Carolina (3-11), swept two home games from Coastal Carolina (4-2, 4-1), and won at Wake Forest (5-2). |
| The Tigers have faced 10 of the current 13 members of the Big Ten. Clemson is 152-66-1 in those contests (a majority of those meetings are with former ACC member Maryland – 164) with a 21-11 mark at neutral sites. |
| Coach Lee is 5-1 all-time against current Big Ten members (1-1 vs. Indiana, 2-0 vs. Michigan, 2-0 vs. Michigan State). Coach Lee is 2-0 against the Big Ten while at Clemson (2-0 vs. Michigan State). |
The Tigers
| 2018 Recap: | 47-16 (22-8; 1st Atlantic) – Clemson Regional – #18 Final Ranking |
| Preseason: | 3rd (one first-place vote) in ACC Atlantic Division (7 teams) |
| Neutral Record: | 3-1 (4-2 in 2018) |
| Last Week: | W, 7-1 vs. Louisville (ACC Tournament) (Thu, 5/23) L, 5-7 (12) vs. Boston College (ACC Tournament) (Tue, 5/21) |
| 2019 Stats | |
| Hitting: | 6.6 RPG, .266 BA, 112 2B, 6 3B, 79 HR, 270 BB, 528 K, 91-116 SB |
| Pitching: | 4.39 ERA, .245 OBA (486 hits), 218 BB, 53 HBP, & 502 K in 528.1 IP |
| Fielding: | .971 (65 errors in 2219 chances) |
The Fighting Illini
| Head Coach: | Dan Hartleb (14th season at Illinois) |
| 2018 Recap: | 33-20 (15-9; T-4th Big Ten) – N/A – NR |
| Preseason: | 3rd in Big Ten (13 teams) |
| Neutral Record: | 3-4 (8-5 in 2018) |
| Last Week: | L, 4-5 vs. Michigan (Big Ten Tournament) (Thu, 5/23) L, 2-6 vs. Maryland (Big Ten Tournament (Wed, 5/22) |
| 2019 Stats | |
| Hitting: | 5.2 RPG, .279 BA, 102 2B, 14 3B, 38 HR, 208 BB, 368 K, 55-69 SB |
| Pitching: | 3.66 ERA, .217 OBA (388 hits), 261 BB, 78 HBP, & 443 K in 492.1 IP |
| Fielding: | .982 (36 errors in 2017 chances) |
Projected Starting Lineups
| Clemson | ||||
| POS | # | Player | YR | 2019 Stats |
| C | 10 | Kyle Wilkie | JR | .293 BA, 13 2B, 5 HR, & 37 RBI in 55 games |
| 1B | 4 | Grayson Byrd | *SR | .315 BA, 15 2B, 15 HR, & 56 RBI in 58 games |
| 2B | 9 | Jordan Greene | GR | .265 BA, 9 2B, 4 HR, & 23 RBI in 42 games |
| SS | 8 | Logan Davidson | JR | .296 BA, 17 2B, 15 HR, & 55 RBI in 58 games |
| 3B | 17 | Justin Hawkins | *SR | .241 BA, 3 2B, 4 HR, & 19 RBI in 30 games |
| LF | 5 | Sam Hall | SO | .261 BA, 12 2B, 7 HR, & 32 RBI in 58 games |
| CF | 13 | Bryce Teodosio | SO | .215 BA, 8 2B, 9 HR, & 32 RBI in 52 games |
| RF | 11 | Michael Green | *SO | .299 BA, 8 2B, 2 HR, & 13 RBI in 25 games |
| DH | 44 | Bryar Hawkins | FR | .283 BA, 7 2B, 7 HR, & 23 RBI in 49 games |
| Illinois | ||||
| POS | # | Player | YR | 2019 Stats |
| C | 32 | Jeff Korte | SR | .216 BA, 2 2B, 2 HR, & 21 RBI in 35 games |
| 1B | 18 | Kellen Sarver | *FR | .270 BA, 9 2B, 3 HR, & 28 RBI in 55 games |
| 2B | 20 | Branden Comia | FR | .254 BA, 4 2B, 4 HR, & 20 RBI in 44 games |
| SS | 4 | Ben Troike | JR | .260 BA, 13 2B, 2 HR, & 21 RBI in 43 games |
| 3B | 27 | Grant Van Scoy | SR | .347 BA, 13 2B, 2 HR, & 22 RBI in 54 games |
| LF | 29 | Cam McDonald | FR | .282 BA, 4 2B, 1 HR, & 33 RBI in 55 games |
| CF | 37 | Zac Taylor | *SR | .331 BA, 12 2B, 10 HR, & 28 RBI in 41 games |
| RF | 3 | Jack Yalowitz | SR | .296 BA, 14 2B, 5 HR, & 31 RBI in 54 games |
| DH | 6 | Michael Massey | JR | .325 BA, 14 2B, 5 HR, & 27 RBI in 53 games |
Probable Starting Pitchers
| LHP | 32 | Jacob Hennessy | JR | 4-1/19 app (5 GS)/3.72 ERA (48.1 IP)/.249 OBA (46 hits)/12 BB/35 K |
| RHP | 7 | Ty Weber | JR | 4-2/15 app (13 GS)/2.97 ERA (75.2 IP)/.212 OBA (59 hits)/31 BB/45 K |