Tigers Face No. 18 Gamecocks

The Tigers and Gamecocks renew their annual rivalry at three different sites this weekend. Clemson is the designated home team on Saturday.

SERIES SETUP• Who – Clemson (6-1) vs. South Carolina (9-0)• Rankings – CU – NR; USC – No. 18 CB, No. 23 USA• When – Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (2:30 p.m.), Sunday (2 p.m.)• Where – Columbia, S.C., (Founders Park) Friday; Greenville, S.C., (Fluor Field) Saturday; Clemson, S.C., (Doug Kingsmore Stadium) Sunday• Watch – SEC Network+ (Friday), TigerCast (Saturday), ESPN3 (Sunday)• TV Announcers – Trey Dyson & Derek Scott (Friday); Marty Clary & Pete Yanity (Sunday)• Listen – TigerCast, Clemson Tiger Sports Network• Live Stats – ClemsonTigers.com• Social Media – Twitter/Instagram (@ClemsonBaseball)• Tickets – ClemsonTigers.com, 1-800-CLEMSON

REEDY RIVER RIVALRY TAILGATE PARTY• The Reedy River Rivalry Tailgate Party, which opens Saturday at 11 a.m., is on Field Street at Fluor Field.• Music, food, drinks, family-friendly activities and all things Clemson will be at the tailgate party until 2 p.m.• The Clemson station features a drawing for a premium gift, schedule cards, posters, IPTAY information, interactive games and giveaways.

SERIES HISTORY• Overall Record – Clemson leads 172-135-2 (1899-2015)• Record at South Carolina – South Carolina leads 81-67-2 (1900-2015)• Record at Neutral – South Carolina leads 10-8 (1899-2015)• Record at Clemson – Clemson leads 97-44 (1907-2015)

STORIED RIVALRY• South Carolina is Clemson’s most-common opponent in history, as the two have faced off 309 times dating to 1899.• The two have met at least one time every year since 1945, with the exception of 1984.• South Carolina leads the series 7-3 at Founders Park (opened in 2009).• South Carolina leads the series 4-1 at Fluor Field (opened 2006). The first game there between the two teams was 2010.• Clemson leads the series 50-27 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium (opened in 1970).

STARTING PITCHERS• Friday – LHP Charlie Barnes (CU) vs. RHP Clarke Schmidt (USC)• Saturday – RHP Braden Webb (USC) vs. RHP Clate Schmidt (CU)• Sunday – RHP Taylor Widener (USC) vs. TBA (CU)

CLEMSON OVERVIEW• Clemson, who has won six games in a row by a combined score of 62-10, blanked Wofford 7-0 on Tuesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.• The Tigers are averaging 9.3 runs per game and hitting .324 with a .428 on-base percentage and nine steals.• The pitching staff has a 1.86 ERA, .206 opponents’ batting average and 2.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio and Clemson is fielding .977.

SOUTH CAROLINA OVERVIEW• South Carolina is led by fourth-year head coach Chad Holbrook.• The Gamecocks defeated The Citadel 6-3 on the road on Tuesday. They are hitting .341 and have a 1.67 ERA and .975 fielding percentage.• John Jones is hitting a team-high .581 with three homers, 19 RBIs, 12 runs and a .690 on-base percentage.

QUICK HITS• This week marks the first of seven straight weeks when Clemson plays at least two games away from home.• Seven Tigers have started a game in the outfield. Chase Pinder (CF) is the only Tiger to start all seven games in the same outfield spot.• Reed Rohlman and Weston Wilson have hit safely in all seven games, while Chris Okey, Rohlman and Wilson have reached base in all seven.

TIGERS AT FLUOR FIELD• Clemson has a 17-6 all-time record at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C.• The Tigers have outscored the opposition 189-96 at Fluor Field, an average score of 8.2-4.2.• The only teams to defeat Clemson at Fluor Field are South Carolina (2010,11,14,15), Presbyterian College (2011) and Michigan State (2015).• Clemson is 9-0 against Furman 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 two late athletic communications directors served as baseball contacts for their schools for decades.

BULLPEN STRONG• Clemson’s bullpen has gotten off to a strong start, as it has only allowed two runs (0.64 ERA) in 28.0 innings pitched in seven games.• One of the two runs allowed came in the season opener versus Maine when a routine two-out flyball was lost in the evening sky (ruled a hit).• The bullpen (nine Tigers) has also given up just 13 hits (.135 opponents’ batting average) and nine walks with 37 strikeouts.• Pat Krall has pitched 5.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball with 10 strikeouts in two relief appearances.• Brooks Crawford (3.2 innings pitched) and Alex Bostic (3.0 innings pitched) have not allowed a hit or run.• Alex Eubanks, who gave up the run against Maine, has allowed just four hits, one run and one walk with 12 strikeouts in 9.1 innings pitched.