South Carolina allowed zero runs in its two wins agains the Clemson Tigers this weekend, winning 2 of 3 and moving to 8-2 on the season. South Carolina is 20-8 in its last 28 games against the Tigers. Barring a post-season matchup, South Carolina has won the season series against Clemson every year since 2006. Clemson's only series win in that stretch was 2010, but the Gamecocks bounced Clemson from Omaha with back-to-back wins and in doing so notched a 3-2 season series victory and advanced to the College World Series Finals. As you may remember, they won that final series. They also won it the next year and made it back to the finals last year. You know, I'm starting to think we're alright at baseball.
The story of last weekend was pitching. The combined line of sophomore Jordan Montgomery and 43rd year senior Nolan Belcher, Friday and Sunday starters respectively: 17 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 12 K. Is that silly? Because I think that's silly. Colby Holmes struggled through his Saturday start (4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) but it's worth noting that Adam Westmoreland was stellar in long relief (4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K). The only other pitcher to see action this weekend was closer Tyler Webb, who faced and struck out three batters in a non-save situation on Friday.
Game 1
R | H | E | |
South Carolina | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Clemson | 0 | 3 | 3 |
The true road game of the series, South Carolina didn't tally its first hit until the 4th inning. But in the fifth, the Cocks strung together a few hits and a sacrifice to scratch a run across. It's all they would need, but Clemson would gift some insurance; in fact, only one of Carolina's six runs was earned. As stated, Montgomery was phenomenal, striking out 9 Tigers in his 8 innings of work. Final Score: 6-0, Gamecocks.
Game 2
R | H | E | |
Clemson | 6 | 11 | 0 |
South Carolina | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Clemson struck early, pushing 2 across in the 4-hit 2nd inning. The Cocks had opportunities to reciprocate but left 4 runners on base in the first 2 innings. Senior Colby Holmes was on the ropes, scattering 8 hits before being chased after 4.2 innings. Adam Westmoreland stepped in and threw 4.1 brilliant innings, allowing Coach Holbrook to preserve bullpen arms for Sunday (not that he'd need to.) Offensively, LB Dantzler continued to sizzle, blasting a 6th inning HR that came on the heels of Max Schrock's first career dinger. Carolina had its chances late, but managed but a single run on 5 base runners in the 7th and 8th innings. Final Score: 6-3, Tigers.
Game 3
R | H | E | |
Clemson | 0 | 3 | 1 |
South Carolina | 8 | 11 | 2 |
Awww, now you gone and done it, Clemson. NOW YOU DONE RILED EM UP [breaks beer bottle over head] South Carolina, after losing on a neutral field, came home angry. Both teams shot down 26 for the series rubber game, but the real rubber commodity was Nolan Belcher's left arm! (You've been Demetra'd) Indeed, the The Pintsized Backflipper went the distance, throwing a complete game and facing only 5 above the minimum. Offensively, three Gamecocks (Chase Vergason, Greyson Greiner, Connor Bright) had a multihit game. The most damage was one in the 6th, when the Cocks score 5 runs with 2 outs. Should have been 3, by the way, but Graham Saiko reached on error to start the frame. All 5 runs that inning: unearned. Final Score: 8-0, Gamecocks.
Another year, another series win over Clemson. By the way, this might make you smile:
With the win, USC clinches the all-sports season series over Clemson for the sixth straight year. Teams tied in 06-07.
— David Cloninger (@DCAtGCKCentral) March 3, 2013
Gotta love that, right? Check out the official baseball notebook for some series nuggets. The Gamecocks will host Ball State for a pair of midweek games before facing Rider this weekend. That's the final weekend series before SEC play begins against Missouri on March 15.