Gamecocks Punch Back

By John Whittle

Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com

  

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Clemson punched on Friday. South Carolina threw its fist on Saturday.

 

Behind a strong performance from three pitchers, the Gamecocks (7-2) rebounded from Friday night’s loss to Clemson with a 4-1 victory over the Tigers (6-3) Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 7,175 at Fluor Field.

 

Clemson got the best of South Carolina head coach Chad Holbrook’s team in the series-opener with an 11-4 win, and Holbrook had a clear message for his team after the loss.

 

“One team is going to punch and you have to punch back,” Holbrook said. “I think I have the right kind of kids that will bounce back the right way.”

 

After giving up a run on hits to two of the first three batters of the game, South Carolina starting pitcher Jack Wynkoop found his groove. A trio of Gamecocks didn’t give up another run on the afternoon.

 

Wynkoop, who moved his record to 2-1 on the season, allowed one earned run on five hits and seven strikeouts in six-plus innings. The game wasn’t without drama though as the South Carolina staff had to get out of bases-loaded jams in both the sixth and seventh innings.

 

“We made some necessary adjustments and got people on base,” said Clemson junior Tyler Krieger, who was 2 for 3 with a walk. “We just couldn’t come up with a big hit. Credit to him though. [Wynkoop] did a great job. I expect us to bounce back tomorrow.”

 

The difference in the game was converting with runners on base. South Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and another in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Connor Bright doubled to open the third and came home on Alex Destino’s double to open the scoring. Four different players, including two freshmen, had RBI in the game for the Gamecocks.

 

Wynkoop was able to get out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the sixth with a strikeout and ground ball. Freshman Clarke Schmidt, who inherited two runners from Wynkoop, found himself facing a bases-loaded no outs situation in the seventh after giving up an infield single.

 

Schmidt, however, struck out catcher Chris Okey and then coaxed a double play ball off the bat of left fielder Reed Rohlman to end the inning. The Tigers were only 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position. The Gamecocks were 3 for 9.

 

“It was a good ball game on both sides,” Clemson head coach Jack Leggett said. “Really clean on both sides. Both teams pitched well, but they made their hits count. Things kind of went their way. They got hits in the right spots with men on.”

 

South Carolina sophomore Taylor Widener closed the door, striking out five of the seven hitters he faced in his two-inning save. He allowed a walk in his 39-pitch performance to earn his third save of the season.

 

“That was as good of a fastball as he’s had since he’s been here,” Holbrook said of Widener’s performance. “Clemson is a really good offensive team, and we held them at bay a little bit today and got out of some big jams that helped us win the game.”

 

South Carolina pitchers combined to strike out 13 hitters on the afternoon.

 

Clemson starting pitcher Zack Erwin allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and five strikeouts. After giving up the run in the third inning, he didn’t allow another hit. The left-hander retired 12 of 13 hitters with the only runner reaching on an error. Tyler Krieger went 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Tigers.

 

The two teams are set for the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday, which will be played at Carolina Stadium in Columbia, S.C. Holbrook said left-hander Josh Reagan is likely to start on the mound for his team while the Tigers will throw right-hander Brody Koerner. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

(photo by Ryan Bethea)