After losing for the first time this season on Saturday, the Gamecocks weren't able to bounce back on Sunday, dropping a series for the first time this season.
Both teams were quiet in the first couple of innings, but Clemson took a 2-0 lead in the third. After South Carolina starting pitcher Taylor Widener hit the Tigers' Adam Renwick to start the inning, a sac bunt advanced Runwick to second and an RBI single by Chase Pinder brought him home. Pinder came home soon after on an RBI double by Reed Rohlman.
The Gamecocks answered with their only run of the day in the next inning when Dom Thompson-Williams led off with a double, then came home on a one-out sac fly by Gene Cone. Clemson added its two other runs in the bottom of the inning, courtesy of a single from Andrew Cox.
Widener had a bit of a rough go of it this afternoon. He pitched into the fourth inning, allowing four hits, four runs, walking two batters and striking two out. Reed Scott and Josh Reagan combined to go the rest of the way for South Carolina, and Reagan in particular did a really nice job keeping the Gamecocks in the game.
South Carolina apparently left its clutch hitting ability in Columbia after Friday night's game, as they went on to score none on Saturday and just the one today. While Clemson was the best competition they've faced this season so far, the offense was pretty much entirely missing in action. Pitching was also shakier than it's been, so hopefully this is just a blip and both of those will get corrected sooner rather than later.
With the loss, the Gamecocks drop to 10-2, while the Tigers improve to 8-2. South Carolina will be back in action on Tuesday, when they host Wofford. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.