March 2, 2013
Greenville, S.C. – Seventh ranked South Carolina cut a five-run deficit down to a pair of runs heading into the ninth inning but Clemson added an unearned run in the top of the ninth and set down the Gamecocks in order in the bottom half to defeat the Gamecocks 6-3 in the Reedy River Rivalry contest at Fluor Field in front of a crowd of 7,125 fans. Carolina is now 7-2 with Clemson 6-3 on the year. The rubber game of the series is set for Sunday at Carolina Stadium. First pitch is 3 p.m. with live video broadcast available on the All Access Channel at GamecocksOnline.com. The game can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College as well including flagship station 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
Clemson starting pitcher freshman Clate Schmidt was effective to earn the win and improve to 2-0 on the year. He allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Reliever Matt Campbell worked the final two innings to tally his third save of the season. He allowed one run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts. South Carolina starter Colby Holmes suffered the loss and is now 1-1 for the season. He allowed five runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings with a walk and three strikeouts.
Clemson put together four hits in the top of the 2nd inning to take a 2-0 lead. Steven Duggar led off with a base hit to right field and scored on a RBI double by Garrett Boulware to the gap in left-center that flew just past a diving Graham Saiko. With runners on the corners and one out, Boulware would score on Tyler Krieger’s RBI base hit to right field.
They increased the advantage to 5-0 in the fifth inning. One-out singles by Krieger and Thomas Brittle gave the Tigers runners on the corners. Holmes would retire the next batter as he struck out Maleeke Gibson for the second out of the inning. However, Steve Wilkerson would bounce a two-out RBI single through the left side to score Krieger. After a walk to Shane Kennedy loaded the bases, the Tigers went ahead by five runs on Steven Duggar’s two-run single up the middle off of reliever Adam Westmoreland.
Westmoreland dug in though and kept the Tigers at bay the next three innings. As he set down 11 in a row, the Gamecocks began to mount a rally. Max Schrock launched a solo home run to right field in the sixth inning, his first career round tripper. That was followed up by a huge blast by LB Dantzler for his fourth homer of the year. It marked the first time this season that the Gamecocks have gone back-to-back with home runs.
Trailing 5-2, the Gamecocks cut the deficit to a pair of runs in the eighth inning. Consecutive two-out doubles by Joey Pankake and Grayson Greiner made it a 5-3 contest. However, Clemson would get a crucial insurance run in the ninth inning. Jay Baum reached base with a one-out single. With two outs he advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Brittle would drive in Baum with a RBI single to right field giving Clemson a 6-3 lead. Campbell worked a perfect ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
Westmoreland went 4.1 innings and allowed one run, unearned, on three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Clemson had 11 hits with Carolina finishing with seven for the afternoon. Brittle, Duggar, Baum and Krieger all finished with two hits apiece. Rosenberg went 2-for-4 to lead Carolina at the plate.
