South Carolina baseball keys to victory over Clemson

After two weeks of tune-up series, the Gamecocks start 12 straight weekends of high-level baseball Friday night.

South Carolina hosts Clemson for the first game of the annual rivalry series while facing adversity entering it.

It’ll take what Mark Kingston called “everything we got” for the Gamecocks to notch a series win. So here’s a look at how South Carolina can do it.

South Carolina gets off to a fast start

With Will Sanders on the bump Friday and TBA listed behind him the remainder of the weekend, it’s imperative for the Gamecocks to get off to a good start. Sanders is a potential first-round pick next season and the Gamecocks have to get a good outing from him to set the tone for the series.

A deep start from Sanders, who threw seven innings last week, could help preserve a thin bullpen for Saturday and Sunday’s games. It’s easier said than done, though, against lefty Mack Anglin.

Clemson’s ace hasn’t allowed an earned run in 10 innings, striking out 14 with five walks and a .034 batting average against this year.

The Gamecocks need to get to him early and force Clemson to the bullpen, but it will be a big test to do that. A nice start Friday night could be beneficial for the overall series.

Gamecock bullpen backs up the starting pitching

With James Hicks down for the season needing Tommy John, the Gamecocks will have to move bullpen pitchers to starter roles. Now young bullpen pitchers will need to take on even bigger roles this weekend.

Right now South Carolina’s bullpen has a 3.61 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 52 strikeouts to 18 walks. Where it’s excelled is not allowing inherited runners; just two of the 11 inherited runners scored.

With largely young or new pitchers throwing in relief this series, getting good moments from those arms—especially Saturday and Sunday—will be big if South Carolina wants to take two of their games.

Get good situational hitting

South Carolina’s been better this season about getting on base at .434 on the year. Where they need to be good against Clemson’s pitching staff is when guys are on base.

The Gamecocks have been solid to start, hitting .304 with runners on and .281 with runners in scoring position. They’ve also hit .606 with a runner on third and less than two outs.

There will be chances to put a crooked number up on the scoreboard and the Gamecocks will need to take advantage this weekend if they want to win.  

Navigate the middle of Clemson’s order

The Tigers’ No. 3 through No. 6 hitters—Caden Grice, Cooper Ingle, Bryar Hawkins and Max Wagner—are all hitting over .333 and are combining to slash .405/.536/.685 this season.

They’ve combined to score 40 and drive in 47 of Clemson’s 90 runs scored.

It’s a stretch that can cause some serious damage and the Gamecocks have to limit the bleeding with those four up to bat. Not allowing guys to be on base when they come up is the starting point and then pitchers have to make sure those guys don’t beat them.

Keep up the stellar defense

This isn’t a strikeout-heavy pitching staff compared to what last year was for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks’ arms largely pitch to contact and rely on what’s been a great defense to work behind them. South Carolina needs to keep it up if they want to take the series.

Clemson offensively is going to put the barrel on the ball and it’ll be up to the defense to make plays and keep the Gamecocks in it. Pitchers have to do a good job, too, of inducing weak contact and letting the defense do its job.

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