Will Taylor’s season had gotten off to a slow start, registering just one hit through his first 23 at-bats and going 0 for 19 since opening day. You won’t be able to convince USC Upstate pitchers that Taylor is in a slump, however, after the veteran outfielder tied a school record with three home runs in Clemson’s 12-6 victory at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Tuesday.
Taylor (3-3, 4 runs) became the 16th player in program history to go deep three times in a game when his sixth-inning homer broke a 6-6 tie and put the 10th-ranked Tigers in front for good. Caden Grice was the last player to pull the hat trick, launching three long balls against Louisville in 2021. Each of Taylor’s three homers led off an inning and either tied the game or gave Clemson the lead.
Blake Wright also homered, a two-run shot in the first inning that gave Clemson an early advantage. The Spartans clawed back and took their first lead after homers from Daniel Gernon in the fourth and Daniel Sullivan in the fifth. But the Tigers’ lineup wouldn’t relent and broke it open with a four-run seventh. The frame featured an RBI double from Andrew Ciufo and a two-run triple from Jacob Hinderleider.
Ethan Darden (2-0) threw three scoreless innings of relief and picked up his second win. USC Upstate (4-4), expected to be one of the best clubs in the Big South, will get another crack at Clemson (7-1) when the two meet at Fluor Field in Greenville on April 2.
Rivalry weekend is up next for Clemson with Friday’s game at USC’s Founders Park, Saturday’s game at Segra Park in Columbia and Sunday’s finale at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch in the series is set for 7 p.m., Friday.
Box Score
Erik Bakich, Will Taylor and Ethan Darden
postgame press conference
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