Tigers and Gamecocks renew rivalry on baseball diamond |
CLEMSON, S.C. - The Tigers play their annual rivalry series with South Carolina at three different sites this weekend.
SERIES SETUP • Who - South Carolina (4-0) vs. Clemson (3-0) • Best Ranking - USC - No. 16 Baseball America, NCBWA; CU - No. 22 Collegiate Baseball • When - Friday (4 p.m.), Saturday (4 p.m.), Sunday (1:30 p.m.) • Where - Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium) Friday; Greenville, S.C. (Fluor Field) Saturday; Columbia, S.C. (Founders Park) Sunday • Watch - ACC Network Extra (Friday), SEC Network+ (Saturday, Sunday) • Video Announcers (Friday) - William Qualkinbush, Pete Yanity • Video Announcers (Saturday) - Kip Bouknight, Tommy Moody • Video Announcers (Sunday) - Burch Antley, Kip Bouknight • Listen (Radio) - WCCP (105.5 FM) • Listen (Internet) - ClemsonTigers.com • Live Stats - ClemsonTigers.com • Social Media - ClemsonBaseball • Tickets (Friday) - Sold out (potentially available on StubHub.com) SERIES HISTORY • Overall Record - Clemson leads 181-141-2 (1899-2020) • Record at Clemson - Clemson leads 100-46 (1907-2020) • Record at Neutral - Clemson leads 12-11 (1899-2020) • Record at South Carolina - South Carolina leads 84-69-2 (1900-2020) STARTING PITCHERS • Friday - RHP Thomas Farr (USC - 1-0, 1.50) vs. RHP Davis Sharpe (CU - 1-0, 0.00) • Saturday - LHP Mat Clark (CU - 0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Brannon Jordan (USC - 0-0, 6.75) • Sunday - RHP Ty Olenchuk (CU - 1-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Julian Bosnic (USC - 0-0, 2.70) CLEMSON OVERVIEW • Clemson, who has a 3-0 home record, swept Cincinnati in three games at home last weekend by a combined score of 18-9. • The Tigers are averaging 6.0 runs per game and hitting .293 with a .400 on-base percentage, .467 slugging percentage and three steals. • The pitching staff has a 1.93 ERA, .188 opponents’ batting average and 4.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .981. SOUTH CAROLINA OVERVIEW • South Carolina, who has a 4-0 home record, is led by fourth-year Head Coach Mark Kingston. • The Gamecocks beat Winthrop 12-4 on Tuesday behind seven homers. They are hitting .359 and have a 2.00 ERA and .962 fielding percentage. • Wes Clarke is 10-for-13 (.769) with six of the team's 14 home runs, two doubles, 12 RBIs, 11 runs and seven walks against no strikeouts. STORIED RIVALRY • South Carolina is Clemson’s most-common opponent, as the two have played 324 times dating to 1899. • The two have met at least once every year since 1945, with the exception of 1984. Therefore, the two have met each of the last 36 years. • The season matchups went to a three-game, weekend-series format in 2010 after the two teams played four midweek games for decades. • South Carolina leads the series 6-5 in regular-season, neutral-site contests since 2010. • Clemson leads the series 53-29 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium (opened in 1970). • Clemson leads the series 5-4 at Fluor Field (opened in 2009) and has won four in a row in the series there. • South Carolina leads the series 10-5 at Founders Park (opened in 2009). QUICK HITS • Clemson is the designated vistiing team and occupies the third-base dugout at Fluor Field on Saturday. • The last time Clemson entered a game against South Carolina with an undefeated season record was 2018 (8-0). • Clemson has won eight games in a row dating to 2020. TIGERS AT FLUOR FIELD • Clemson has a 27-6 all-time record in 33 games at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. • The Tigers have outscored the opposition 266-136 at Fluor Field, an average score of 8.1-4.1. • The only teams to defeat Clemson at Fluor Field are South Carolina (2010,11,14,15), Presbyterian (2011) and Michigan State (2015). • Clemson has won 11 games in a row at Fluor Field dating to an 8-6 Michigan State win on March 11, 2015. • Clemson is 10-0 under Head Coach Monte Lee at Fluor Field. BOB BRADLEY AWARD PRESENTED SUNDAY • Clemson’s MVP of the South Carolina series is presented the Bob Bradley Award. The Gamecocks’ MVP receives the Tom Price Award. • The 2021 series marks the 21st year the awards are presented. • The two late athletic communications directors served as baseball contacts for their respective schools for decades. PARKER SOLIDIFYING INFIELD • Sophomore James Parker has continued his role as the starting shortstop in 2021 after leading the team in starts at shortstop in 2020. • He is hitting .455 with a double, homer, three RBIs, a run and a .538 on-base percentage in three games in 2021. • He has a 1.000 fielding percentage in nine chances. • He hit a home run and later added a walkoff single in the 10th inning in the 8-7 win over Cincinnati on Feb. 21. • In his career, he is hitting .280 with six doubles, three homers, 18 RBIs, 17 runs and four steals in 43 games (31 starts).
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
