South Carolina at Clemson game 3 recap: Gamecocks fall to Tigers 7-2

After the high of pulling off a win to salvage the weekend series against Mississippi State, things took a turn for the less good on Tuesday night with a loss to Clemson in the final game of the series, which was originally supposed to be played many weeks ago.

Both teams were scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead on a one-out solo shot by Wes Clarke. Unfortunately that lead was short-lived, as the Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning courtesy of an error and a James Parker RBI single, making it 3-1. Clemson added another run in the sixth on a single from J.D. Brock, bumping the score to 4-1.

USC’s final run of the game came in the eighth, when they made it 4-2 with a one-out homer by Jeff Heinrich. The Tigers’ final three runs came in the bottom of the inning on a Dylan Brewer home run, a Kier Meredith base hit, and a steal of home.

Carolina’s CJ Weins did a great job in his first start, pitching 2.2 innings and not allowing any hits or runs, while walking three batters and striking two out. Daniel Lloyd, Wesley Sweatt, John Gilreath, Parker Coyne, and Jaret Bennett combined to go the rest of the way, and Lloyd took the loss, making him 0-1. Clemson reliever P.J. Labriola got the win and is now 1-0, while Nick Hoffmann earned the save, his fourth. David Mendham led the Cocks at the plate with three hits, while Clarke and Heinrich each tallied an RBI.

USC is now 28-18 overall, and while the Tigers are 23-21. The Gamecocks will be back in action on Friday, when they travel for a series against Kentucky. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. in Lexington.