The South Carolina baseball team (9-3) ran into its first roadblock of the 2025 season, dropping all three games to the No. 13 Clemson Tigers (10-1) in the Palmetto Series. The Gamecocks fall to 9-3 after previously being undefeated.
The Gamecocks dropped the first game 5-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina on Friday night, followed by a 5-1 loss at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina on Saturday afternoon. South Carolina's luck didn't change at home on Sunday night, as it lost 8-2 at Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park.
Here's a recap of the Palmetto Series:
South Carolina drops first game of season to Clemson in first game of Palmetto Series
The South Carolina baseball team lost their first game against Clemson 5-3 on Friday night. This game marked the first of a three-game series between the two in-state rivals, both competing for another point in the Palmetto Series.
“I thought our kids were a little nervous. I tried to have them as loose as they could," head coach Paul Mainieri said. "For a lot of them this is the first time they’re playing in an environment like this, and I thought the first few innings we didn’t do the things we have been doing, and we dug ourselves a hole there.”
The Tigers struck first in the bottom of the first inning following a bunt single by junior outfielder Cam Cannarella and a walk by fifth-year infielder Josh Paino to put the first two runners on base. A two-out RBI double by sophomore designated hitter Collin Priest pushed the first two runs of the game home for the Tigers.
The Tigers scored another two runs on an RBI single by fifth-year outfielder Dominic Listi and a bases loaded walk from Paino.
The Gamecocks saw its first real chance to strike back in the top of the third inning, following a single and a walk by junior designated hitter Jase Woita and junior infielder Ethan Petry. A sacrifice fly from sophomore infielder Nolan Nawrocki put the Gamecocks on the board. Senior catcher Talmadge LeCroy pieced an RBI double to cut the Gamecocks deficit to one.
The Tigers hit the first home run of the series to take a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning courtesy of sophomore infielder Jarren Purify.
Senior pitcher Matthew Becker made his third start of the season for the Gamecocks, allowing 4 runs on five hits to go with five strikeouts and five walks through 3.1 innings.
Sophomore pitcher Brandon Stone helped slow the Tigers down after Becker’s outing, limiting them to only three hits despite giving up a solo home run. Stone had six strikeouts in 4.2 innings in the loss.
“I thought Brandon Stone was awesome," Mainieri said. "Even if we would have tied the game or taken the lead I would have kept him in the game. He was just in a great rhythm out there…he really pitched great and gave us a chance.”
Sophomore pitcher Aidan Knaak had an excellent outing for Clemson, allowing 3 runs on four hits, striking out nine Gamecocks batters in his 4.2 innings of work. The Tigers relief pitchers held the Gamecocks to only one hit and no runs in 4.1 innings and had five additional strikeouts.
Tigers quiet Gamecocks, take series in Greenville
In game two of the series at Fluor Field, Clemson held South Carolina to five hits on its way to a 5-1 win, clinching the series for the Tigers.
Sophomore pitcher Jake McCoy got the start on the mound for the Gamecocks, giving up 2 earned runs on three hits while striking out 12. McCoy has now struck out 29 batters in 15 innings this season.
"It's really a shame we didn't win the game because that was as dominating a game from a young kid as I've seen," Mainieri said. "He was phenomenal. Threw so many strikes and he just overpowered them early."
Junior pitcher Ethan Darden found himself in an early jam in the first inning when junior outfielder Nathan Hall hit a leadoff double, followed by a pair of walks that loaded the bases with no outs. But the Gamecocks stranded all three runners when Darden recorded three straight outs, including a fielder's choice by junior catcher Max Kaufer with two outs. Darden then retired the next 10 batters he faced, limiting the Gamecocks to no runs on three hits while posting seven strikeouts.
"Their kid was equal to the task," Mainieri said. "We had a great chance there in the first inning with the bases loaded, nobody out, and we let them off the hook. Heck, I think they were sending somebody to the bullpen already that early, and we just didn't finish the inning."
Clemson took a 2-0 lead when Listi opened the sixth with a leadoff walk and later advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Cannarella followed with a double that scored a run. Sophomore infielder Luke Gaffney then hit an RBI-groundout, scoring Cannarella on the throw to first base.
Two fielding errors in by the Tigers in the seventh gave South Carolina a pair of baserunners. The Gamecocks couldn't take advantage of the opportunity, as freshman catcher Gavin Braland grounded into a double play, ending the inning. Braland, who had five at-bats on the season coming into Saturday, was pinch-hitting for freshman infielder KJ Scobey.
"He's been swinging the bat so well," Mainieri said. "He's gotten so much stronger. One thing about Braland I know is that he's not going to get cheated. He's going to get up there and get his swings. I was looking for somebody who would be very aggressive."
The Gamecocks cut the deficit to one in the eighth when Petry hit a solo home run, his third long ball of the season . But the Tigers answered with 3 runs in the ninth to extend its lead to 5-1. With two runners on, junior catcher Jacob Jarrell hit an RBI-single, followed by a sacrifice fly from graduate outfielder Tristan Bissetta that scored a run. Purify made his presence felt again when he hit his second hit of the series, this time an RBI-double that scored Jarrell.
South Carolina went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth, sealing the 5-1 win for Clemson. Only four Gamecocks recorded a hit in game two. Hall, a Clemson transfer, was the only Gamecock who reached base multiple times, going 2-4 with a double. Gaffney also went 2-4 for the Tigers, while Purify went 1-2 with two walks.
"We're going to have to find it from somewhere, that's for sure," Mainieri said. "The bottom third of our order really hasn't produced much at all. Even some of the guys up in the order had a little bit of a tough time. The pitching we've faced the last two days is good pitching."
Tigers complete sweep of 2025 Palmetto Series
The Gamecocks dropped its third straight game on Sunday night, losing 8-2 in the final game of the Palmetto Series at Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park.
A pitcher's duel described the first third of the game, with Gamecocks senior pitcher Dylan Eskew and Clemson sophomore pitcher Justin LeGuernic combining for 10 strikeouts in the first three innings.
The Gamecocks threatened in the bottom of the third with singles by Hall and Petry, but both were left stranded after junior designated hitter Jase Woita went down on strikes.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the fifth inning after a Gamecock error allowed Jarell to take third base. Purify singled to drive in the game's first run.
Eskew finished his day on a positive note, striking out Jarrell and firing up the crowd. Eskew finished with seven strikeouts and allowed just 3 hits in six innings of work.
Clemson junior pitcher Joe Allen held the Gamecocks in check not allowing a hit and striking out six in his three innings. Clemson's offense used the momentum, with Priest taking Gamecocks sophomore pitcher Parker Marlatt deep with two runners on to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead.
The Gamecocks showed life in the bottom of the eighth after an RBI single by Woita had the Gamecocks with two runners on and one out. However, a double play aided by a controversial interference call held the Gamecocks to only two runs.
The Tigers struck right back in the top of the ninth, a two-run single by Cannarella, and an RBI single by Gaffney. Followed by a wild pitch that allowed Cannarella to score, the Tigers led 8-2 going into the bottom of the ninth.
“Every game was in the balance going into the eighth inning and we didn't do what it took, and Clemson did,” Mainieri said.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tigers graduate pitcher Reed Garris only faced three Gamecock batters to complete the series sweep .
Mainieri said that his offense needs to be more consistent to give his pitching staff some comfortability on the mound.
“We gotta give some support to the pitchers,” Mainieri said. “We can’t have them thinking any one little mistake is going to cost them the ballgame.”
What's next?
The Gamecocks will be back at home on Tuesday, March 4 to face the Davidson Wildcats (4-6) at Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.