Clemson shuts down Gamecocks on Sunday, wins series
Linescore
USC (10-2) - 000 100 000 = 1-7-0
CLE (8-2) - 002 000 00x = 4-7-1
Highlights
— South Carolina had more success in terms of getting men on base Sunday. The Gamecocks drew two walks and added three hits in the first three innings. All five came with two outs, however, and the Gamecocks failed to capitalize.
— Gene Cone hit a deep fly into the gap, that was ultimately caught by right fielder Seth Beer. However, Beer collided with fellow Clemson Tiger Chase Pinder, and was forced to leave the game with a facial laceration. Freshman K.J. Bryant, a one-time Gamecock commit replaced Beer in the top of the second.
*** USC-Clemson Game 3 Photo Gallery by Paul Collins ***
— Starting pitcher Taylor Widener began the game strong, but ran into trouble in the third inning when the Tigers scored twice. He allowed a leadoff walk and single in the fourth inning before leaving. Reliever Reed Scott gave up a successful sacrifice bunt and back-to-back singles in the fourth inning. After four, the Tigers led 4-1.
— In the top of the fourth, Dom Thompson-Williams was the first leadoff man to reach base for the Gamecocks, starting the inning with a double. He scored two batters later on a Gene Cone sacrifice fly.
— Left-hander Josh Reagan entered the game in the fourth inning and shut down the Clemson offense for four and two-thirds innings, allowing just a hit and two walks in the stretch. Reagan has pitched nine and a third shutout innings this season and has allowed only two hits and two walks.
— Brandon McIlwain ended the game with a swinging strikeout. The true freshman is now 0-6 with two strikeouts on the season.
How the runs scored
CU 3rd- Renwick HBP, Cox sacrifice bunt, Pinder singled (RBI) and advanced to second on the throw, Rohlman doubled (RBI), White struck out, Bryant walked, Wilson struck out. TWO RUNS, TWO HITS (CU 2-0)
USC 4th- Thompson-Williams doubled, Tolbert grounded out to first, Cone sacrificed to center (RBI), Mooney grounded out. ONE RUN, ONE HIT (2-1 CU)
CU 4th- Okey walked, Jolly singled, Renwick sacrificed to the pitcher, Cox singled to right (2 RBI) Pinder singled, Rohlman flied out, White struck out. TWO RUNS, TWO HITS (4-1 CU)
Notes
— Jonah Bride and Dom Thompson-Williams both reached base to extend their streaks. Both have reached base in every game this season.
— Josh Reagan has progressed from a low-80s, lefty-specialist to a dynamic long-reliever. He entered with runners on first and second with one out in the fourth and pitched the rest of the way for the Gamecocks. He has not allowed any of his inherited runners to score this season.
— The Gamecocks matched Clemson with seven hits, but only two came with less than two outs. The Gamecocks only put the leadoff runner on base once in nine attempts, and it led to the lone run of the game.
— John Jones, Alex Destino and Dom Thompson-Williams — the 2, 3, and 4 hitters — combined for five of the Gamecocks’ seven hits. However, only two of those hits occurred in the same inning. Jones was thrown out at third on Destino’s single in the third inning.
Quotes
“They outperformed us, they outpitched us. One run in the last 18 innings or so … You have to give Clemson’s pitchers credit. They kinda manhandled us the last 18 innings.” — Head coach Chad Holbrook on the last two losses
“We got some guys on base. A lot of those situations were two outs and nobody on. We tried to manufacture something. You gotta get leadoff guys on base … Trying to do it all with two outs is asking a little bit too much. We’ve gotta get better at that. We’ve gotta get better with nobody out. We’ve gotta find a way to get guys on first base.” — Holbrook on failing to get timely baserunners
“Our pitching kept us in the game. If you’d have told me today that we’d hold them to four runs, I’d have taken it … The pitching wasn’t the problem. Their pitching was our problem.” — Holbrook on the pitchers
“This season isn’t over, it’s a long year, we all know that. We play 56 games not 12. We’re 10-2. Obviously, losing to Clemson is tough. We’re 10-2, I’m an optimistic kid and I only see a bright future for this team. That’s the mindset I have and I think we have a locker room full of guys that believe the same thing.” — Alex Destino on the series loss
“It’s tough. Any time you’re not really squaring the ball up or getting as many hits as we’ve been accustomed to, it’s tough … I have a team that’s a very optimistic team. We’re not going to dwell on this by any means. Obviously it’s a tough series loss, but we’re excited to move down the road.” — Destino on the offensive frustrations
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