COLUMBIA, S.C. — Bryar Hawkins’ clutch single with two outs in the ninth after Cooper Ingle was intentionally walked for the third time gave the Tigers a 3-2 win over South Carolina at Founders Park.
In the first, South Carolina took the lead thanks to some free 90s. Mack Anglin walked the first two batters. With one out, a wild pitch moved them over and a sacrifice fly put the Gamecocks up 1-0.
Clemson fought back to tie the game in the top of the third. Benjamin Blackwell hit a leadoff single. With one out, Tyler Corbitt singled. Ingle singled with two away to score Blackwell and tie the game. The Tigers went on to load the bases, but Max Wagner struck out to end the threat.
The Gamecocks took the lead again in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Josiah Sightler crushed a solo home run to right center. Anglin had a one-hitter going until that home run. South Carolina led 2-1 after six.
Jonathan French struck out his first three at bats, but that all changed in the top of the eighth. With one out, French hit a bomb just over the foul pole in left to tie the game 2-2.
The third time was the charm for the Tigers. Three times South Carolina gave Ingle an intentional walk to pitch to Hawkins with runners on base. In the ninth, Hawkins made them pay. Dylan Brewer reached on a fielding error. Caden Grice struck out for the second out and Ingle drew the intentional walk. Hawkins singled to score Brewer and the Tigers led 3-2.
Anglin had another strong performance, going 6.0 innings and only giving up two hits, two runs and two earned runs. He finished with 9 strikeouts on the night.
Clemson moved to 9-0 with the win. The Tigers and Gamecocks will play game two Saturday at 4 p.m. at “neutral site” Segra Park in Columbia.