Game 1
March 3rd, 2023
Doug Kingsmore Stadium — Clemson, SC
The annual Battle of the Palmetto State between South Carolina (10-1) and rival Clemson (5-5). The South Carolina Gamecocks came into it ranked #23 in D1 Baseball’s rankings and (9-0). While the Clemson Tigers enter unranked at (4-4) losing their last 4 matchups via a weekend sweep at home form UCF and a midweek vs USC Upstate.
The Tigers handed the undefeated Gamecocks their first time this season as Clemson took game 1, 5-2 Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Cooper Ingle lead things off in the bottom of the 1st for the Tigers with a home run to left field. Clemson put up 2 in the 1st, and one in the 2nd and 3rd.
The Gamecocks got the tying run to the plate in the top of the 9th after a sac fly RBI from Carson Hornung and a Dylan Brewer single, but a ground out from Will McGillis ended the threat and game.
Will Sanders started, allowed 4 earned runs in 6 innings pitched, 9Ks, a walk, and picked up the loss.
Game 1 Top Performers:
Talmadge LeCroy: 2-3, RBI
STATS & NOTES
• This is the first game that the Gamecocks did not hit a home run this season.
• Carolina was one of the last 9 unbeaten teams entering the game before losing.
• Sanders has struck out 23 Tiger batters in his last 2 outings.
Game 2
March 4th, 2023
Fluor Field — Greenville, SC
Game 2 of the Battle of the Palmetto State occurred at the neutral site of Fluor Field in Greenville, SC in front of 7,215 fans. It was a quiet start but a back and forth, high scoring affaire between the two after the 4th. Noah Hall, who has been fantastic this year for the Gamecocks started strong before the Tigers opened it up in the 5th with an 2RBI single from Chad Fairey and a bases loaded fielder’s choice RBI double play from Cooper Ingle. Hall finished the day with 6IP, 6H, 3ER, 5K, BB.
The Gamecocks responded in the 6th with 3 runs of their own on an RBI double from Ethan Petry and a 2RBI single from Talmadge LeCroy. Clemson bounced back with 4 runs of their own off of Matthew Becker in the 7th from Ingle, Wright, and Cannarella to make it 7-4. Becker only went 1 inning with 4H, 4ER, 3K, BB.
South Carolina turned it up a notch with 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning behind another Petry RBI single, a LeCroy sac fly, and a Carson Hornung 3-run homerun. The Gamecocks weren’t done yet as they added some much needed insurance runs in the 8th thanks to Caleb Denny’s RBI double and Cole Messina’s 2-run homer to make it 11-7. Chris Veach closed it on the mound for the Gamecocks to hold onto the win, despite giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks.
Game 2 Top Performers:
Cole Messina: 3-5, 3R, 2RBIs
Talmadge LeCroy: 1-3, 3RBIs
Carson Hornung: 1-2, 3RBIs, BB
Ethan Petry: 2-3, 2R, 2RBIs, BB
STATS & NOTES
• The Gamecocks have scored double digit runs for the 7th time this season.
• Cole Messina is now tied for the lead in home runs on the team with 5.
Game 3
March 5th, 2023
Founders Park — Columbia, SC
Game 3 of the Palmetto State rivalry took place in Columbia, SC with Junior Jack Mahoney on the mound. Mahoney gave the Gamecocks a strong start on 4IP, 4H, ER, 4K, 2BB. The bats came alive early with an RBI single from Cole Messina in the 1st, then a Gavin Gasas long ball to left field. They and he didn’t stop there however, in the 4th, Casas launched his 2nd homer of the game to centerfield for 2 more RBIs. Talmadge LeCroy then followed suit with his own, and back-to-back homers for South Carolina.
The RS-Junior, James Hicks then came on in relief and gave the Tigers more than they could handle with 5 shutout innings only allowing 2H with 6Ks and a walk. The bats were more than the Clemson pitching staff could contain with an RBI double from Caleb Denny in the 5th and LeCroy with an RBI single in the 8th to make it 7-1. South Carolina won the rubber match and series over Clemson, 7-1.
Game 3 Top Performers:
Gavin Casas: 2-4, 3RBIs, 2HRs
Talmadge LeCroy: 2-4, 2RBIs, HR
STATS & NOTES
• Talmadge LeCroy [.500 (5-10) with a home run and 6 RBIs] earned the Tom Price Award (Most Valuable Player of the Palmetto State Rivalry series).
• The Gamecocks have now hit back-to-back home runs 4 times this season.
• James Hicks has 14 strikeouts and allowed just 4 hits in 14 scoreless innings this season.
• Carolina wins the Palmetto State Rivalry back-to-back season.
• Series attendance: 20,913 total fans