Recap: Gamecocks stay unbeaten by crushing Clemson, 8-1

South Carolina faced rival Clemson Friday night at Founders Park in Columbia. Here is a recap of what happened:

LINESCORE

CLE (6-2): 000 000 001 = 1-6-3

USC (10-0): 100 050 02x = 8-12-0

WP – Clarke Schmidt (3-0)

LP – Charlie Barnes (1-1)

SV – None

HR – CLE, Beer (9th, none on).

HIGHLIGHTS:

-- Gamecocks improve to 10-0. USC starter Clarke Schmidt blanked Clemson over a career long 8.0 innings as he fanned nine batters, also a career high. Alex Destino went 5-for-5 with four RBI for the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks roughed up Clemson starter Charlie Barnes for seven hits and six runs in 5.0 innings, but he received little support in the field as well.

-- Schmidt worked out of a first and second, no out jam in the top of the first with three consecutive strikeouts. The next inning, Schmidt allowed a leadoff single, but a baserunning blunder led to a F-9-3 double play.

-- USC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when John Jones continued his hot hitting by lining a double to left-center. Alex Destino singled sharply to right on the next pitch and Jones scored to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead. Destino has 13 RBI on the season.

-- Schmidt was aided by another double play in the top of the third. A hit by pitch and single put Clemson runners at first and second with one out, but Schmidt got Reed Rohlman, one of the Tigers’ most dangerous hitters, to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

-- After Destino’s RBI single, Clemson starter Charlie Barnes set down eight straight Gamecock hitters until Destino’ lined a single to left for his second hit of the night with one out in the bottom of the fourth. But consecutive popups ended the inning.

-- Schmidt’s third HBP of the night came with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Schmidt recorded his fifth strikeout to end the inning.

-- Some good hitting by the Gamecocks, together with shoddy defense by Clemson, contributed to a five-run bottom of the fifth for the Gamecocks as they took a commanding 6—0 lead. After Mooney singled with one out, Blair reached on catcher’s interference. A throwing error by the Clemson first baseman on a grounder by DTW led to one run. RBI singles by Bride, Destino and Tolbert ensued as the Gamecocks took a 6-0 lead.

-- The Gamecocks were a bit fortunate to score the second run on Destino’s single. Bride fell down between third and home and could have been tagged out easily. However, the Clemson third baseman held the ball with his back to Bride and didn’t see him. Bride jumped to his feet and scored standing up. Clemson committed three errors in the five-run uprising.

-- Schmidt spent the rest of the game protecting the lead as he retired the final nine Clemson hitters he faced after yielding a leadoff single in the top of the sixth.

-- USC added two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Destino completed his 5-for-5 night with his fourth RBI. Jonah Bride had a RBI double earlier in the inning.

-- Reed Scott pitched the ninth for the Gamecocks and allowed a solo homer to Seth Beer. After a walk, Scott got PH Robert Jolly to ground into a 4-3 double play to end the ballgame.

HOW THE RUNS SCORED:

USC 1st – Thompson-Williams grounded to second, Bride flied to left, Jones doubled to left-center, Destino singled to right (RBI), Cullen struckout. ONE RUN, TWO HITS (USC 1-0).

USC 5th – Cone flied to left, Mooney singled to pitcher (deflected off glove), Blair reached on catcher’s interference, Thompson-Williams reached on fielder’s choice, Mooney scored and Blair advanced to second on throwing error (E3), Bride singled to right-center (RBI) and advanced to second on throwing error (E9), Jones hit by pitch, Destino singled to left-center (2 RBI), Cullen struckout swinging, Tolbert singled to right-center (RBI), Cone popped to short. FIVE RUNS, FOUR HITS (USC 6-0).

USC 8th – Blair flied to right, Thompson-Williams walked, Thompson-Williams stole second, Bride doubled to right-center (RBI), Jones flied to center, Destino singled to right (RBI), Cullen walked, Arendas struckout. TWO RUNS, TWO HITS (USC 8-0).

CLE 9th – <SCOTT FOR SCHMIDT>, Okey struckout, Beer homered to right (RBI), Wilson walked, Jolly grounded into a 4-3 double play. ONE RUN, ONE HIT. GAME OVER (USC 8-1).

Never miss a moment with the GamecockCentral app: App Store - Google Play