I’m not high on Clemson’s prospects this coming weekend in Columbia and not just because they play in Columbia and two-time defending champ South Carolina potentially looms. The fact is the Tigers may never play the Gamecocks in this regional.
Coastal Carolina has the #2 ERA nationally and Clemson is a mediocre at best at the plate. The Tigers actually have the highest SoS in the Regional, but also own the lowest team batting average – though none of these four will be mistaken for murderers row.
Thomas Brittle (orangeandwhite.com)
Can the Tigers beat Coastal? Absolutely. But here’s guessing all those salivating over a potential South Carolina-Clemson matchup on Saturday should wait and see what the Tigers do on Friday against a Coastal team they’ve already lost to this year.
A couple of things in the Tigers favor are the Chanticleers fielding issues and a weak schedule that may have the Chants pitching a tad overrated. And remember – this is a Clemson team that gave South Carolina all they wanted in a 3 games series early in the season.
| Team | Record | Fielding | ERA | Batting | Slugging | SoS |
| South Carolina | 40-16 | 5 | 31 | 177 | 88 | 44 |
| Clemson | 33-26 | 40 | 94 | 193 | 117 | 21 |
| Coastal Carolina | 41-17 | 160 | 2 | 92 | 153 | 161 |
| Manhattan | 33-25 | 119 | 151 | 162 | 178 | 214 |
This is the Gamecocks regional to lose, and while Gamecock pitching isn’t three-peat worthy and they lack top end hitting, South Carolina should head to the Supers next week.
