The Clemson-USC baseball series this weekend is following the script of the past three years. The Gamecocks won the opener Friday night, as they did in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and the Tigers bounced back with the win at Fluor Field in Greenville, as they did the previous three seasons. The Tigers have now won 10 games in a row at Fluor Field.
Saturday the Tigers displayed their power, speed and bullpen with three home runs, three stolen bases, and only one run allowed by the pen in an 11-5 victory in front of 7432 fans, second largest crowd in the stadium’s history. The Tigers will go for their fifth straight series win over the Gamecocks Sunday at Founders Park in Columbia.
TJ Hopkins gave USC an early 2-0 lead with a homer in the bottom of the first, his second homer of the series. Clemson quickly answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second. The Tigers took the lead for good with two more runs in the third for a 4-2 lead. After the Gamecocks made it 4-3 in the bottom of the inning, the Tigers broke the game open with a three run fourth that included a two run homer by Sam Hall.
The Tigers later added a solo homer by Bryce Teodosio and a two run shot by Logan Davidson. On the mound, Sam Weatherly and Holt Jones picked up starter Davis Sharpe by allowing just one run and two hits over the final 5.1 innings. Weatherly earned his second win of the season and Jones his first save. Gamecock starter Dylan Harley took the loss.
A key for Clemson in the win, two-out hitting. Seven of the Tigers’ ten hits and seven of their runs came with two outs. The Gamecocks managed just three hits with two outs and left seven.
A big moment in the game was the bottom of the sixth when the Gamecocks loaded the bases with no one out and only scored once. What could have been a big rally only got them back to within 8-5.
Both teams are 8-2 going into Sunday’s rubber game. Righthander Reid Morgan will start for USC and lefthander Justin Wrobleski for the Tigers. First pitch is set for noon.
Clemson postgame press conference (Monte Lee, Holt Jones, Sam Hall and Bryce Teodosio)
USC postgame press conference (Mark Kingston, George Callil, Daniel Lloyd)
