Tag: Clemson vs. South Carolina

Schedule changes for Clemson vs. NC State; contest with South Carolina won’t be made up

CLEMSON, S.C. – The NC State vs. Clemson game on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium is now scheduled to start at 6 p.m. South Carolina and Clemson also announced that the March 1 contest at Founders Park in Columbia that was postponed due to rain will not be made up. A mutual date was unattainable based on remaining competition and academic schedules.

CLEMSON, S.C. – The NC State vs. Clemson game on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium is now scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

South Carolina and Clemson also announced that the March 1 contest at Founders Park in Columbia that was postponed due to rain will not be made up. A mutual date was unattainable based on remaining competition and academic schedules.

The 2024 regular-season series ends with Clemson winning both games, a 5-4 victory at Segra Park in Columbia and a 5-4 win at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Fans who purchased tickets to the game at Founders Park can email gctix@mailbox.sc.edu for more information.

–via Clemson Athletic Communications

Best rivalry in college baseball? Tigers/Gamecocks, Clemson players say

These Clemson players say Tigers vs. Gamecocks is the best rivalry in college baseball.

In a matchup of two top 25 teams, Clemson won a pair of thrilling 5-4 victories against in-state rival South Carolina in the Palmetto Series over the weekend. The games were the latest entries in a rivalry that dates all the way back to the end of the 19th century.

Since 1899, the Tigers and Gamecocks have played one another more times than any other opponent. With its two wins this weekend, Clemson now leads the all-time head to head series, 188-145-2.

The Tigers, ranked 11th in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, improved to 9-1 overall with their two nail-biting victories over the 16th-ranked Gamecocks.

A walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning from Andrew Ciufo ended Saturday’s contest, while a come-from-behind victory on Sunday ended with Tigers pitcher Austin Gordon stranding the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base in the ninth inning.

College baseball, much like college football and basketball, is known for its top rivalries. Alabama and Auburn hate each other in any sport, as does Ole Miss and Mississippi State, Florida and Florida State (and Miami), Duke and North Carolina, and others.

As for Clemson vs. South Carolina and the Palmetto Series?

“I think this is the best rivalry in college baseball,” Tigers third baseman Nolan Nawrocki said after Sunday’s game, which included Nawrocki’s go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. “It’s great to be a part of it. I’m just so happy that we can all embrace these moments and just keep competing.”

Second baseman Blake Wright, who went 2-for-4 and clubbed his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game, agreed with Nawrocki.

“It’s the best rivalry in college baseball. Definitely in the state,” Wright said. “It was definitely a huge (series) win for us. We played hard as a team, we were super competitive. They’re a good club. It definitely got a little chippy, but that’s what makes it fun. It means a lot to this university and it means a lot for us (players).”

Because Friday’s scheduled series opener at Founders Park in Columbia was rained out, the two schools will play a makeup game in April.

In the meantime, Clemson will host Kansas State in midweek play Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Ciufo’s walk-off homer lifts Clemson past South Carolina, 5-4

Andrew Ciufo’s walk-off home run in the 12th inning ended an extra-innings thriller, and No. 10 Clemson defeated No. 12 South Carolina, 5-4, Saturday at Segra Park in Columbia.

Andrew Ciufo’s walk-off home run in the 12th inning lifted No. 10 Clemson past No. 12 South Carolina in a thrilling 5-4 victory Saturday at Segra Park in Columbia.

Ciufo’s home run capped off a terrific afternoon for the talented junior, who finished with three hits and made several key defensive plays at shortstop.

His game-winning homer off Garrett Gainey (0-1) came after the Gamecocks had used a three-run ninth inning rally to erase a 4-1 Clemson lead and send the game into extra innings.

Matthew Marchal (2-0) earned the win in relief with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball.

Clemson used five pitchers in Saturday’s marathon, which lasted over 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Until the ninth, things had been going Clemson’s way. The Tigers drew first blood in the fourth inning when Cam Cannarella (2-for-5) hit a clutch, two-out double over the head of Kennedy Jones in left to give Clemson a 2-0 lead.

South Carolina got on the board a half-inning later when Will Tippett (2-for-5) crushed a solo home run to left off Tigers starter Tristan Smith to cut the lead to 2-1.

In the eighth, Jacob Hinderleider (2-for-4) sent a laser out of the park and onto the concourse area behind left field to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead with three outs to go.

Then, the trouble started.

Ethan Darden, who had tossed three scoreless innings in relief entering the ninth, ran into trouble when he allowed a leadoff double to Tippett.

Lucas Mahlstedt took over from Darden and yielded a run-scoring triple from pinch-hitter Blake Jackson. Alden Mathes seemed to be within reach of the ball but his glove simply never found it. The play was nevertheless ruled a triple.

The damaging blow came two batters later when Ethan Petry sent a game-tying two-run home run out to right field — a stunning turnaround after Clemson pitching had held South Carolina to just six hits entering the inning.

Neither team scored again until Ciufo’s walk-off homer on a 2-0 pitch three innings later.

Smith made his third straight Saturday start and struck out a career-high nine batters in five innings in a no-decision. The left-hander surrendered one run on three hits and a walk.

Ciufo made a fantastic stop in the sixth inning when he robbed Parker Noland of a would-be game-tying hit. He made a diving play in the hole at short, then fired to first to get Clemson out of the jam.

Ciufo made another terrific play for the final out in the seventh after the Tigers had left the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

The series shifts to Doug Kingsmore Stadium Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Clemson vs. South Carolina baseball postponed due to weather

Clemson’s Friday matchup against South Carolina has been postponed.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Due to inclement weather, the Clemson vs. South Carolina game scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Founders Park has been postponed. No makeup date has been determined as of yet.

The Tigers’ next scheduled game is Saturday at 4 p.m. against South Carolina at Segra Park in Columbia on ACC Network Extra.

SERIES HISTORY
• Overall Record – Clemson leads 186-145-2 (1899-2023)
• Record at South Carolina – South Carolina leads 86-70-2 (1900-2023)
• Record at Neutral – Tied 13-13 (1899-2023)
• Record at Clemson – Clemson leads 103-46 (1907-2023)

CLEMSON OVERVIEW
• Clemson, which has played all of its games at home, defeated USC Upstate 12-6 on Tuesday behind five homers, its most since 2022.
• The Tigers are averaging 8.6 runs per game and hitting .330 with a .570 slugging percentage, .441 on-base percentage and six steals.
• The pitching staff has a 4.62 ERA, .236 opponents’ batting average and 2.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .950.

SOUTH CAROLINA OVERVIEW
• South Carolina, which has played all its games at home and is averaging 9.3 runs per game, is led by seventh-year Head Coach Mark Kingston.
• The Gamecocks defeated Gardner-Webb 7-1 on Tuesday. They are hitting .285 and have a 2.40 ERA and .968 fielding percentage.
• Former Tiger Dylan Brewer is hitting .519, Ethan Petry is batting .357 with three homers and Garrett Gainey has the team’s lone save.

STORIED RIVALRY
• South Carolina is Clemson’s most-common opponent in history, as the two have played 333 times dating to 1899.
• The two have met at least once every year since 1945, with the exception of 1984. Therefore, the two have met each of the last 39 years.
• The season matchups went to a three-game, weekend-series format in 2010 after the two teams played four midweek games for decades.
• South Carolina leads the series 8-6 in regular-season, neutral-site contests since 2010.
• South Carolina leads the series 12-6 at Founders Park (opened in 2009).
• The series is tied 1-1 at Segra Park (the first meeting there was in 2020).
• Clemson leads the series 56-29 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium (opened in 1970).

–Via Clemson Athletic Communications

No. 10 Clemson set to face No. 12 South Carolina in rivalry series

Clemson and South Carolina continue their historic rivalry.

The No. 10 Tigers play their annual rivalry series with No. 12 South Carolina at three different sites this weekend.

SERIES SETUP
• Who – Clemson (7-1) vs. South Carolina (8-1)
• Best Ranking – CU – No. 10 Baseball America, D1Baseball; USC – No. 12 Baseball America
• When – Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (4 p.m.), Sunday (2 p.m.)
• Where – Columbia, S.C. (Founders Park) Friday; Columbia, S.C. (Segra Park) Saturday; Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium) Sunday
• Watch – SEC Network+ (Friday), ACC Network Extra (Saturday, Sunday)
• Video Announcers (Friday) – Kip Bouknight, Dave Weinstein
• Video Announcers (Saturday) – Bob Mahony, William Qualkinbush
• Video Announcers (Sunday) – Jeff Morris, William Qualkinbush
• Listen (Radio) – Clemson Athletic Network (locally on WCCP (105.5 FM))
• Listen (Internet) – ClemsonTigers.com
• Live Stats – ClemsonTigers.com
• Social Media – ClemsonBaseball
• Tickets (Sunday) – ClemsonTigers.com, 1-800-CLEMSON

SERIES HISTORY
• Overall Record – Clemson leads 186-145-2 (1899-2023)
• Record at South Carolina – South Carolina leads 86-70-2 (1900-2023)
• Record at Neutral – Tied 13-13 (1899-2023)
• Record at Clemson – Clemson leads 103-46 (1907-2023)

STARTING PITCHERS
• Friday – RHP Billy Barlow (CU) vs. RHP Eli Jones (USC)
• Saturday – RHP Dylan Eskew (USC) vs. LHP Tristan Smith (CU)
• Sunday – RHP Roman Kimball (USC) vs. RHP Aidan Knaak (CU)

CLEMSON OVERVIEW
• Clemson, which has played all of its games at home, defeated USC Upstate 12-6 on Tuesday behind five homers, its most since 2022.
• The Tigers are averaging 8.6 runs per game and hitting .330 with a .570 slugging percentage, .441 on-base percentage and six steals.
• The pitching staff has a 4.62 ERA, .236 opponents’ batting average and 2.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .950.

SOUTH CAROLINA OVERVIEW
• South Carolina, which has played all its games at home and is averaging 9.3 runs per game, is led by seventh-year Head Coach Mark Kingston.
• The Gamecocks defeated Gardner-Webb 7-1 on Tuesday. They are hitting .285 and have a 2.40 ERA and .968 fielding percentage.
• Former Tiger Dylan Brewer is hitting .519, Ethan Petry is batting .357 with three homers and Garrett Gainey has the team’s lone save.

STORIED RIVALRY
• South Carolina is Clemson’s most-common opponent in history, as the two have played 333 times dating to 1899.
• The two have met at least once every year since 1945, with the exception of 1984. Therefore, the two have met each of the last 39 years.
• The season matchups went to a three-game, weekend-series format in 2010 after the two teams played four midweek games for decades.
• South Carolina leads the series 8-6 in regular-season, neutral-site contests since 2010.
• South Carolina leads the series 12-6 at Founders Park (opened in 2009).
• The series is tied 1-1 at Segra Park (the first meeting there was in 2020).
• Clemson leads the series 56-29 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium (opened in 1970).

QUICK HITS
• Clemson is the designated home team and occupies the third-base dugout at Segra Park on Saturday.
• Clemson has won six of the last nine season series against South Carolina from 2015-23.
• Former Tiger Head Coach Monte Lee (2016-22) is the associate head coach at South Carolina.

TIGERS AT SEGRA PARK
• Clemson has a 3-2 all-time record in five games at Segra Park in Columbia, S.C.
• The Tigers have outscored the opposition 34-21 at Segra Park, an average score of 6.8-4.2.
• Clemson is 1-1 against South Carolina at Segra Park.
• Clemson is 1-0 under Head Coach Erik Bakich at Segra Park.

BOB BRADLEY AWARD PRESENTED SUNDAY
• Clemson’s MVP of the South Carolina series is presented the Bob Bradley Award. The Gamecocks’ MVP receives the Tom Price Award.
• The 2024 series marks the 24th year the awards are presented.
• The two late athletic communications directors served as baseball contacts for their respective schools for decades.

DARDEN PITCHING EFFECTIVELY AGAIN
• Sophomore lefthander Ethan Darden emerged as a freshman in 2023 as a dependable weekend starter.
• He has picked up where he left off with consistent outings in 2024.
• He is 2-0 with an 0.00 ERA, .111 opponents’ batting average and six strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched over three relief appearances.
• He has only allowed one walk.
• He pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in relief of one-hit ball with four strikeouts to earn the win against USC Upstate on Feb. 27.
• In his career, he is 5-2 with a 5.04 ERA, .257 opponents’ batting average and 51 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched over 22 appearances.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Clemson Baseball vs. South Carolina: Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series against South Carolina.

Clemson will face its toughest test of the young season this weekend when it takes on rival South Carolina in the three-game cross-state series.

The Tigers (7-1 overall) are ranked 10th in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll. South Carolina (8-1) is ranked 16th in the coaches poll, but they’re No. 12 in Baseball America’s Top 25 rankings.

Through eight games this season, the Tigers have picked up pretty much where they left off last year before postseason play began.

Clemson’s offense has been hot, averaging 8.6 runs per game while batting a collective .330. Leadoff man and center fielder Cam Cannarella is off to a blistering start with 15 hits in 29 at-bats. The sophomore and 2023 ACC Freshman of the Year didn’t play in Clemson’s 12-6 victory over SC Upstate on Tuesday due to a shoulder injury he suffered a week earlier.

South Carolina defeated Gardner-Webb, 7-1, earlier this week. As a team, the Gamecocks are batting .285 and have a 2.40 staff ERA. Coach Mark Kingston’s team is averaging nine runs per game.

Former Tiger Dylan Brewer, who spent three seasons at Clemson, leads South Carolina with a .519 average (14-for-27) through the team’s first nine games. Ethan Petry (.357 average) and Cole Messina each have three home runs apiece.

For the third straight weekend, Clemson is scheduled go with right-hander Billy Barlow on the mound as its Friday starter, followed by left-hander Tristan Smith on Saturday and freshman right-hander Aiden Knaak in Sunday’s finale.

The Gamecocks are set to counter with their Friday night starter, right-hander Eli Jones. RHPs Dylan Eskew and Roman Kimball will start Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Series History

Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with South Carolina, 186-145-2. The Gamecocks are the Tigers’ most common opponent in a series that dates back to 1899. South Carolina took two of three games in last year’s series.

Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series against South Carolina.

Dates: Friday-Sunday, March 1-3

Start Times (EST):

Friday, 7 p.m.

Saturday, 4 p.m.

Sunday, 2 p.m.

Where:

Friday: Founders Park

Saturday: Segra Park (Columbia, S.C.)

Sunday: Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Live Stream:

Friday: SEC Network+, ESPN+

Saturday and Sunday: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com

Broadcast Teams

SEC Network Extra: Dave Weinstein, Kip Bouknight

ACC Network Extra: William Qualkinbush, Bob Mahony, Jeff Morris

Social media reacts: Clemson takes down rivals South Carolina to remain undefeated

Here is a look at how social media reacted to Clemson’s excellent win over rivals South Carolina.

Brad Brownell and the Clemson men’s basketball team remained undefeated as they took down rivals South Carolina 72-67, ending the Gamecocks undefeated season.

The Tigers trailed 7 heading into the half (30-23), but that didn’t stop this team from rallying to beat their bitter rivals. The team fought hard behind 13 second-half points from Chauncey Wiggins to reach 8-0 on the season as arguably the hottest team in college basketball right now.

Starting your season this way is as good as it can get for a team, but this win makes it that much sweeter. When you and your biggest rival both have tremendous starts to your season, and you walk away with the big rivalry win, it is the best feeling for players and fans.

Here is a look at how Twitter/X reacted to Clemson’s big win.

Brownell updates injuries ahead of Clemson vs. South Carolina battle of undefeated teams

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell updated the injury status of multiple players ahead of Clemson vs. South Carolina.

Brad Brownell and the Clemson men’s basketball team have a huge matchup Wednesday as the Tigers host undefeated rivals South Carolina for what is shaping up to be an excellent matchup.

Forward Jack Clark has been dealing with lingering injuries, but played through it until recently. Clark did not participate in the Tigers’ win over Pittsburgh, and it sounds like his status is still up in the air ahead of this matchup against the Gamecocks.

“We’re still kind of trying to figure it all out. I would say he’s doubtful for this game. I’m going to get with Brad (Crowe) right before practice and just see what it looks like. It’s been challenging for him. Just hasn’t been able to kind of get all the way there. He’s had some steps back, if you will, so we’ve just got to kind of deal with it day-to-day,” Brownell said.

Along with Clark is Alex Hemenway, who is dealing with a lower leg injury. Hemenway has some time to go before the team believes he’ll be back to full strength.

“Jack and Alex, that’s been really challenging. I anticipated those guys being probably two of our top six guys. It’s just, they both haven’t been able to do as much,” Brownell said.

Clemson won’t be at full strength for this matchup, but they’ve been banged up throughout the season. Clemson faces South Carolina on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Littlejohn Coliseum with tipoff at 8 p.m., televised on ACC Network.

Former Tiger takes shots at South Carolina

This former Tiger took shots at South Carolina for their frequency of not being bowl-eligible.

When Clemson took down their rivals 16-7 last Saturday on the road, they ended South Carolina’s season as the Gamecocks finished with a 5-7 record and failed to earn eligibility for a bowl game. 

Former Clemson player Harold “Dutch” Coleman let his feelings about the Gamecocks be known, roasting South Carolina for another year of not being bowl-eligible. Shots have been fired, and Coleman completely recognizes this. 

This will seem like a shot at our rival, & while it’s definitely a shot at them, no question about that, & with all certainty & intent, it’s still a general statement. It’s pretty hard to consistently not be bowl eligible. Maybe once. But all the time?

This rivalry means something, even with players who have long departed from the program. Clemson will participate in their 25th straight bowl game while the Gamecocks are looking toward next season.

Former Tiger Eric Mac Lain on Clemson’s ‘absolute stud’ true freshman safety

This Clemson freshman has been on a tear, and former Tiger Eric Mac Lain has taken notice.

A weekly occurrence for the ACC Network’s ACC Huddle show is the crew making their picks for “game balls”, awarded to players who were standouts in their team’s matchups. 

Former Tiger Eric Mac Lain gave his game ball to Clemson true freshman safety Khalil Barnes, who was unbelievable in the Tigers’ 16-7 win over South Carolina. Barnes made a beautiful heads-up play on the Gamecocks’ first drive, taking a 42-yard fumble recovery to the house. On the next South Carolina play, Barnes picked off South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler on a deep ball.

“Khalil Barnes from Jump Street, taking this thing to the crib. Great heads up play here by the true freshman,” Mac Lain said of Barnes’ touchdown. “Coach Dabo Swinney said in the spring game, this dude was going to be an absolute stud. One play later, he picks it off gives Clemson the ball.”

“This dude is freaky,” added Mac Lain, who joined ACCN in 2019 after playing for Clemson from 2011-15. “Gonna be a leader for years to come.”

Barnes showed exactly what he is capable of and more on Saturday, and it was fun for Tigers’ fans to see the program’s future playing so well. Barnes was a major reason the Tigers walked away from Columbia with a rivalry game win.