FOUNDERS PARK: For the third straight game, Clemson had overall better pitching, and much better timely hitting, as the Tigers beat South Carolina 8-2 to complete a three-game sweep of their annual series. It’s the second straight sweep in the series for Clemson (though last year was two games), and it’s the Tigers third sweep in the last four series with the Gamecocks.
Clemson’s pitching was once again outstanding limiting the Gamecocks to five hits for the third straight game. USC hitters were held to a .109 batting average for the series with 36 strikeouts
Justin LeGuernic started for Clemson and pitched four shutout innings. He was followed by Joe Allen (2-0) who pitched three hitless innings. Both struck out six.
They were nearly matched by USC starter Dylan Eskew (0-1) who only allowed one run and three hits over six innings while striking out seven and walking four.
Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Jarren Purify. That’s where the game stood until the top of the eighth when Collin Priest ripped a three-run homer to make it a 4-0 Clemson lead.
The Gamecocks bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, one scoring on a Jase Woita single with runners on the corners, and the other coming on a double-play ground ball to second during which interference was called on Woita as he slid into the bag. Ethan Petry was able to score prior to the interference call to make it a 4-2 game. .
The Tigers put the game away in the top of the ninth against reliever Brandan Sweeney. They loaded the bases with two outs before Cam Cannarella delivered a two-run single. Luke Gaffney followed with an RBI single, and Cannarella later scored from third on a wild pitch.
The Gamecocks went down in order against Reed Garris who was the fourth pitcher used by the Tigers.
Clemson’s Saturday starter Ethan Darden won the Bob Bradley Award as the Clemson MVP, and USC’s Saturday starter Jake McCoy won the Tom Price Award for the Gamecocks’ MVP.
The three-game series drew a total of 22,116 fans to the three different ballparks.
After the game, USC coach Paul Mainieri revealed catcher Talmadge LeCroy was dealing with a broken thumb suffered in the first game of the season and reaggravated on Saturday, and outfielder Kennedy Jones hurt his shoulder sliding on Friday night. Both were out of the lineup on Sunday.
Clemson is now 10-1 and will play Upstate Tuesday night at Fluor Field. USC is 9-3 and will host Davidson on Tuesday night.
Box Score
