CU Clips No. 4 USC 5-3 in 11

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Logan Davidson scored on a wild pitch in the 11th inning to lift No. 12 Clemson to a 5-3 win over No. 4 South Carolina at Founders Park on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers, who won the series 2-1, improved to 8-3, while the Gamecocks dropped to 7-5. It was also Clemson’s 10th win in a row away from home, its longest streak since winning 11 games in a row away from home in 1995.

South Carolina scored a two-out run on a wild pitch in the third inning, then Andrew Cox belted hits first homer of the year, a solo shot to left field. After the Gamecocks took the lead on Chris Cullen’s two-out, run-scoring double in the sixth inning, Chase Pinder answered with a two-out, run-scoring single in the top of the seventh inning to tie the score 2-2. In the bottom of the seventh inning, TJ Hopkins led off with a triple and scored on Matt Williams’ double.

On a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Seth Beer blasted a solo homer to right field, his fourth long ball of the year, to tie the score 3-3. The Gamecocks put their first two batters on base in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Ryley Gilliam struck out Madison Stokes with the bases loaded to end the inning. In the 11th inning, Davidson led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on Reed Rohlman’s sacrifice bunt. Then on the first pitch to Beer, who Tyler Haswell was trying to intentionally walk, his toss was in the dirt and went to the backstop, allowing Davidson to score. Pinder added a run-scoring single in the 11th inning.

Alex Schnell (1-0) earned the win, while Brandon Murray (0-1) suffered the loss.

Beer won the Bob Bradley Award as Clemson’s MVP of the three-game series. He totaled two homers, three RBIs, seven walks and a .600 on-base percentage in three games. Hopkins received the Tom Price Award as South Carolina’s MVP. He was 4-for-11 (.364) with a triple, RBI and four runs in three games.

Clemson returns to Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C., to face Michigan State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Tigers are the designated visiting team and will occupy the third-base dugout.

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