South Carolina 7-Clemson 0 Game Summary
FOUNDERS PARK
- After a scoreless 2.5 innings, South Carolina got on the scoreboard with a four run third inning as the Gamecocks sent eight men to the plate. A leadoff single and two walks from Aidan Knaak (0-1) loaded the bases. A wild pitch scored the first run. Ethan Lizama singled to center for the second run, and drew a wild throw from catcher Jacob Jarrell as he headed to second to allow a third run to score. KJ Scobey later singled in the fourth run.
- The Gamecocks made it 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth. After the first two runners reached, Scobey drove in one run with a double to left center, Talmadge LeCroy, who advanced to third, later scored on a wild pitch.
- USC scored the final run in the bottom of the seventh without the benefit of a hit. Tyler Bak led off with a walk and later stole second. With two outs, a throwing error by the shortstop on a ground ball allowed Bak to score the Gamecocks second unearned run.
- The real story of the game was Gamecock righthander Josh Gunther. The Wake Forest transfer, making his first collegiate start, was sensational. He pitched seven innings of three hit ball while striking out a career high 10 and walking one. He improved to 2-0 on the season.
- The Tigers best scoring threat against Gunther came in the fifth when they had second and third with one out. But Gunther Bryce Clavon looking and Jarren Purify swinging to end that threat. That was the only inning where the Tigers got a runner to third base.
- Alex Valentin followed Gunther to the mound and completed the Gamecocks’ first shutout of Clemson since 2017. He did not allow a hit while striking out five and walking one over his two innings.
- USC had just four hits off of three Clemson pitchers. The Gamecocks struck out 12 times, but they did draw five walks and had one batter hit by a pitch.
- The Tigers were loose with the baseball. They had two wild pitches, two passed balls and two errors.
- The win by South Carolina snaps Clemson’s five game winning streak in the series. The Gamecocks improved to 7-3 while the 11th ranked Tigers dropped to 8-1.
- Game two of the series will be Saturday afternoon at Segra Park in Columbia with Clemson the designated home team. Amp Phillips will start for USC and Michael Sharman will start for the Tigers. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM.
