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CUTrevor
2026-02-26 15:45:07
CLEMSON, S.C. - The No. 11 Tigers play in the Palmetto Series, presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery, against South Carolina this weekend. SERIES SETUP • Who - Clemson (8-0) vs. South Carolina (6-3) • Best Ranking - CU - No. 11 USA Today; USC - NR • When - Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (3 p.m.), Sunday (3 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, Grayson Greiner, Dave Weinstein • Video Announcers (Saturday) - Bob Mahony, William Qualkinbush • Video Announcers (Sunday) - Don Munson, Ron Smith • 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 191-145-2 (1899-2025) • Record at South Carolina - South Carolina leads 86-71-2 (1900-2025) • Record at Neutral - Clemson leads 15-13 (1899-2025) • Record at Clemson - Clemson leads 105-46 (1907-2025) STARTING PITCHERS • Friday - RHP Aidan Knaak (CU) vs. RHP Josh Gunther (USC) • Saturday - RHP Amp Phillips (USC) vs. LHP Michael Sharman (CU) • Sunday - RHP Riley Goodman (USC) vs. LHP Talan Bell (CU) CLEMSON OVERVIEW • Clemson, which has played all its games at home, defeated Presbyterian 6-2 at home on Tuesday. • The Tigers are averaging 7.3 runs per game and hitting .332 with a .534 slugging percentage, .428 on-base percentage and eight steals. • The pitching staff has a 1.43 ERA, .163 opponents’ batting average and 4.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Clemson is fielding .960. SOUTH CAROLINA OVERVIEW • South Carolina has a 6-3 home record, 0-1 road record, is averaging 6.4 runs per game and is led by second-year Head Coach Paul Mainieri. • The Gamecocks lost to Queens 9-8 at home on Wednesday night. They are hitting .305 and have a 3.71 ERA and .967 fielding percentage. • Will Craddock is hitting .500 with nine runs, Talmadge LeCroy is batting .471 with seven RBIs and Alex Valentin has two saves. STORIED RIVALRY • South Carolina is Clemson’s most-common opponent in history, as the two have played 338 times since 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 41 years. • The season matchups went to a three-game, weekend-series format in 2010 after the two teams played four midweek games for decades. • The series is tied 8-8 in regular-season, neutral-site contests since 2010. • South Carolina leads the series 12-7 at Founders Park (opened in 2009). • Clemson leads the series 2-1 at Segra Park (the first meeting there was in 2020). • Clemson leads the series 58-29 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 eight of the last 11 season series against South Carolina from 2015-25. • Former Tiger Head Coach Monte Lee (2016-22) is the associate head coach and hitting coach at South Carolina. TIGERS AT SEGRA PARK • Clemson has a 4-2 all-time record in six games at Segra Park in Columbia, S.C. • The Tigers have outscored the opposition 39-25 at Segra Park, an average score of 6.5-4.2. • Clemson is 2-1 against South Carolina at Segra Park. • Clemson is 2-0 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 2026 series marks the 26th year the awards are presented. • The two late athletic communications directors served as baseball contacts for their respective schools for decades. GAFFNEY RESURGING • Junior infielder and catcher Luke Gaffney has rebounded in 2026 to become one of the team's top offensive threats. • He is hitting .464 with a homer, three doubles, seven RBIs, five runs and a .679 slugging percentage in eight games in 2026. • He has a .559 on-base percentage thanks to six walks against only one strikeout. • He has reached base in all eight games in the 2026 season and has hit safely in each of the last seven games. • In his two years as a Tiger, he is hitting .296 with 10 doubles, six homers, 46 RBIs, 31 runs and two steals in 62 games (59 starts). |
