#11 Clemson 7-USC 2 Game Summary
Doug Kingsmore Stadium
- South Carolina grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a two out, two-run single to left by Dawson Harman. The Gamecocks had three hits in the inning. They would have one more the rest of the game.
- Clemson scored seven unanswered runs starting in the bottom of the second. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out with a walk, a hit by pitch and a single. A wild pitch scored their first run. A grounder to second by Ty Dalley got the second run home to tie the game. Jarren Purify struck out swinging to end the threat. USC starter Rileyi Goodman threw 35 pitches in the inning.
- Clemson took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. Goodman walked the leadoff batter and was replaced by Zach Russell. Nate Savoie greeted him with a double to put runners on second and third. Luke Gaffney grounded out to third with the runners holding, then Tyler Lichtenberger followed with a two-run single for a 4-2 lead.
- The Tigers made it 5-2 in the fourth with Dalley hitting his first homer as a Tiger off of reliever Hudson Lee.
- The Tigers closed out the scoring in the sixth inning with a pair of unearned runs. An error on Harman at third, a hit batter, a sac bunt and a walk loaded the bases. After Purify struck out, Tryston McCladdie singled to right to score the runs for a 7-2 lead.
- USC did have a threat in the seventh inning putting runners on first and second with one out, but fielder’s choices to second and short ended the inning.
- After scoring their two runs in the second off Clemson starter Talan Bell, the Gamecocks had just five more base runners the rest of the game. Bell pitched four innings and allowed both runs while striking out three and walking none. He threw 59 pitches, 44 for strikes. Drew Titsworth (2-0) followed and only allowed two walks and a hit batter while striking out three. He threw 44 pitches, 28 for strikes. Joe Allen and Danny Nelson finished up and did not allow a base runner. The quartet of Tiger pitchers threw 129 pitches with 87 for strikes.
- In the series, Clemson pitchers threw 357 pitches, 247 went for strikes. That’s just over 69% of their pitches going for strikes.
- Goodman (0-2) took the loss for USC. He allowed three runs on two hits while striking out two and walking two in his two innings of work. He threw 50 pitches, 27 for strikes. Five relievers followed Goodman to the mound.
- South Carolina pitcher Josh Guthrie and Clemson pitcher Michael Sharman were named the winners of the Tom Price and Bob Bradley Awards as the series MVPs for their respective teams.
- Clemson has now won the state championship series three consecutive seasons an 12 of the last 15 match ups with the Gamecocks.
- South Carolina was 12-91 at the plate, a .131 batting average. Clemson was 18-91 at the plate, a .197 batting average.
- Clemson is now 10-1 and will play Michigan State on Wednesday night at Fluor Field in Greenville.
- USC is now 7-5 and will play host to Upstate on Tuesday night.
- With the series win, Clemson adds a point in the Palmetto series and now leads the Gamecocks 6-2.
