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After seeing their winning streak come to an end in a lopsided loss on Saturday, South Carolina got back in the win column with a dominant victory over Clemson on Sunday to win the rivalry series for this season.
The Tigers were on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Sam Hall singled and later came home thanks to a combination of a Kyle Wilkie double and a throwing error. That lead didn’t last long though, as the Gamecocks put up five runs in the bottom of the inning. Noah Campbell and Brady Allen each knocked a base hit to start things off, then TJ Hopkins followed with a two-run double to make the score 2-1. After that, Andrew Eyster singled, then Luke Berryhill went yard for three runs, putting USC up 5-1.
USC added another run in the next inning, thanks to a one-out single from Hopkins and a sac fly RBI by Jacob Olson. The Gamecocks added several more runs in the fourth. Campbell singled to lead off, stole second, and came home on an RBI single by Allen that made the score 7-1. Hopkins followed that with a two-run bomb, putting the home team up 9-1. With one out, Eyster got hit by a pitch, then Berryhill came through again with a two-run homer of his own, giving South Carolina an 11-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Clemson’s Logan Davidson went yard with a one-out solo shot to make the score 11-2. Grayson Byrd followed that with a single, and he later came home on a two-out RBI single by Michael Green to make it 11-3.
The Gamecocks scored the final three runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Eyster singled, Berryhill walked, and Cullen knocked a single to load the bases with one out. Jordan Holladay followed with an RBI base hit, Berryhill scored on wild pitch, and George Callil came through with an RBI sac fly to get Cullen home.
USC starter Reid Morgan had another fantastic outing, working 6.2 innings and giving up eight hits and three runs. He didn’t walk any batters and struck out five. Morgan earned the win and is now 2-0. Cam Tringali and Sawyer Bridges also took the mound in this game. Clemson starter Justin Wrobleski was pulled in the first inning and took the loss, dropping to 0-2.
Hopkins was named the winner of the Tom Price Award as the Gamecocks’ MVP, while Hall won the Bob Bradley Award as the Tigers’ MVP.
South Carolina is now 9-2 on the season, while Clemson is 8-3. The Gamecocks are scheduled to be back in action on Tuesday, when they host The Citadel. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Founders Park.