Notes (PDF)
The No. 10 Tigers play their annual rivalry series with No. 12 South Carolina at three different sites this weekend.
SERIES SETUP• Who – Clemson (7-1) vs. South Carolina (8-1)• Best Ranking – CU – No. 10 Baseball America, D1Baseball; USC – No. 12 Baseball America• When – Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (4 p.m.), Sunday (2 p.m.)• Where – Columbia, S.C. (Founders Park) Friday; Columbia, S.C. (Segra Park) Saturday; Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium) Sunday• Watch – SEC Network+ (Friday), ACC Network Extra (Saturday, Sunday)• Video Announcers (Friday) – Kip Bouknight, Dave Weinstein• Video Announcers (Saturday) – Bob Mahony, William Qualkinbush• Video Announcers (Sunday) – Jeff Morris, William Qualkinbush• Listen (Radio) – Clemson Athletic Network (locally on WCCP (105.5 FM))• Listen (Internet) – ClemsonTigers.com• Live Stats – ClemsonTigers.com• Social Media – ClemsonBaseball• Tickets (Sunday) – ClemsonTigers.com, 1-800-CLEMSON
SERIES HISTORY• Overall Record – Clemson leads 186-145-2 (1899-2023)• Record at South Carolina – South Carolina leads 86-70-2 (1900-2023)• Record at Neutral – Tied 13-13 (1899-2023)• Record at Clemson – Clemson leads 103-46 (1907-2023)
STARTING PITCHERS• Friday – RHP Billy Barlow (CU) vs. RHP Eli Jones (USC)• Saturday – RHP Dylan Eskew (USC) vs. LHP Tristan Smith (CU)• Sunday – RHP Roman Kimball (USC) vs. RHP Aidan Knaak (CU)
CLEMSON OVERVIEW• Clemson, which has played all of its games at home, defeated USC Upstate 12-6 on Tuesday behind five homers, its most since 2022.• The Tigers are averaging 8.6 runs per game and hitting .330 with a .570 slugging percentage, .441 on-base percentage and six steals.• The pitching staff has a 4.62 ERA, .236 opponents’ batting average and 2.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .950.
SOUTH CAROLINA OVERVIEW• South Carolina, which has played all its games at home and is averaging 9.3 runs per game, is led by seventh-year Head Coach Mark Kingston.• The Gamecocks defeated Gardner-Webb 7-1 on Tuesday. They are hitting .285 and have a 2.40 ERA and .968 fielding percentage.• Former Tiger Dylan Brewer is hitting .519, Ethan Petry is batting .357 with three homers and Garrett Gainey has the team’s lone save.
STORIED RIVALRY• South Carolina is Clemson’s most-common opponent in history, as the two have played 333 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 39 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 8-6 in regular-season, neutral-site contests since 2010.• South Carolina leads the series 12-6 at Founders Park (opened in 2009).• The series is tied 1-1 at Segra Park (the first meeting there was in 2020).• Clemson leads the series 56-29 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium (opened in 1970).
QUICK HITS• Clemson is the designated home team and occupies the third-base dugout at Segra Park on Saturday.• Clemson has won six of the last nine season series against South Carolina from 2015-23.• Former Tiger Head Coach Monte Lee (2016-22) is the associate head coach at South Carolina.
TIGERS AT SEGRA PARK• Clemson has a 3-2 all-time record in five games at Segra Park in Columbia, S.C.• The Tigers have outscored the opposition 34-21 at Segra Park, an average score of 6.8-4.2.• Clemson is 1-1 against South Carolina at Segra Park.• Clemson is 1-0 under Head Coach Erik Bakich at Segra Park.
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 2024 series marks the 24th year the awards are presented.• The two late athletic communications directors served as baseball contacts for their respective schools for decades.
DARDEN PITCHING EFFECTIVELY AGAIN• Sophomore lefthander Ethan Darden emerged as a freshman in 2023 as a dependable weekend starter.• He has picked up where he left off with consistent outings in 2024.• He is 2-0 with an 0.00 ERA, .111 opponents’ batting average and six strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched over three relief appearances.• He has only allowed one walk.• He pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in relief of one-hit ball with four strikeouts to earn the win against USC Upstate on Feb. 27.• In his career, he is 5-2 with a 5.04 ERA, .257 opponents’ batting average and 51 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched over 22 appearances.
