Clemson Tops South Carolina 5-1, Gamecock Sweep on the Line

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Gamecocks suffered a 5-1 defeat against the Clemson Tigers on Saturday afternoon, March 1, 2025, at Fluor Field, setting the stage for a decisive final game in their weekend baseball series.

In the first inning, both teams had opportunities to score, with Clemson’s Dominic Listi leading off with a double and moving to third due to an error. However, the inning ended with two outs after a strikeout and a flyout that resulted in a home plate double play by South Carolina’s Kennedy Jones.

South Carolina responded with Nathan Hall hitting a double, while teammates Dalton Mashore and Ethan Petry walked, but were unable to convert the chances into runs as the inning concluded with a pop out and strikeout.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth when Cam Cannarella drove in a run with a double for Clemson, followed by a swinging bunt that allowed him to score, giving the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.

In the eighth inning, Ethan Petry hit a solo home run, marking his third of the season and the 47th of his career. Clemson sealed their victory with three additional runs in the ninth inning, resulting in a final score of 5-1.

Clemson’s Jake McCoy exhibited an impressive performance on the mound, recording a career-high 12 strikeouts over six innings while allowing only three hits, two runs, and two walks on 93 pitches.

Nathan Hall stood out for the Gamecocks, recording two hits in an effort to spark his team’s offense.

Following the match, Gamecock Coach Mark Kingston emphasized the team’s need for improvement as they prepare for the final game in the series. ‘We need to find a way to ignite our bats and put runs on the board. Our pitching has done a great job, but we need to back them up with offensive support,’ Kingston said.

South Carolina’s players will look to bounce back as they travel to Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park for the series finale on Sunday, March 2, at 5 p.m. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.

Initially coming into the series unbeaten, the Gamecocks are now seeking to avoid their first sweep of the season against their arch-rivals. In the first two games of the series, South Carolina has managed to score only four runs compared to Clemson’s ten runs.