Gamecocks rally past Clemson, even series 1-1

Clemson kept the South Carolina offense quiet for the better part of two games, but the Gamecocks eventually erupted in time to even the series at a game apiece.

South Carolina scored 11 runs over its final three at bats to rally for an 11-9 victory Saturday afternoon at Fluor Field in Greenville.

The Gamecocks trailed 3-0 after five innings and 7-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, before scoring five runs in the seventh and three in the eighth to come out on top.

The Clemson pitching staff was hurt by allowing six walks and hitting four batters. The Gamecocks did a nice job of taking advantage of the mistakes.

“South Carolina has a very good team,” Clemson coach Erik Bakich said. “Good teams, when you give them opportunities like that – six walks and four hit by pitches – they’ve obviously got a dangerous offensive lineup and they showed why there in the later innings.”

USC led 11-7 going to the ninth inning, but Clemson didn’t go away quietly. Will Taylor drove in two runs with a single to cut the lead to 11-9, and Clemson eventually brought the go-ahead run to the plate. But Gavin Abrams grounded out to second to end the game.

Clemson had a very good offensive game, finishing with 12 hits and scoring nine runs, but it wasn’t enough.

Freshman Tristan Smith was outstanding while making his first weekend start on the mound, allowing only two hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. He did not allow a run and struck out five batters. However, the Tigers bullpen struggled.

South Carolina starter Noah Hall was also solid, keeping Clemson off the board until the fifth inning. Hall ended up allowing three runs in six innings of work.

“Early on I thought it was a very well pitched game by both Tristan Smith and Noah Hall. Both pitchers really doing a nice job of holding down two good teams,” Bakich said. “Through the first four innings, you would have never thought 20 runs were going to be scored in that game.”

While Clemson outhit South Carolina 12-11, the Gamecocks hit two big home runs.

Carson Hornung hit a three-run shot with two outs in the seventh inning to give South Carolina an 8-7 lead, before Cole Messina followed with a two-run shot in the eighth to push the lead to 11-7.

“A two-strike, two-out, three-run home run to take the lead turned out to be a huge hit at the time,” Bakich said.

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Founders Park in Columbia after Clemson won Game 1 on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

“It’s going to be a great rubber match tomorrow and really looking forward to this series finale,” Bakich said.