In a game that lived up to the hype of a top-25 rivalry, No. 20 Clemson emerged victorious over No. 13 South Carolina in a nine-inning defensive duel, edging out the Gamecocks in a 3-2 thriller that showcased grit, precision, and timely execution from both teams.
Played under the lights in front of a raucous crowd, the battle between the Tigers and Gamecocks was less about explosive offense and more about who could capitalize on the slimmest of margins. And for Clemson, it was just enough.
The Tigers leaned heavily on their pitching staff, with starter Ethan Darden setting the tone early. Darden, a junior left-hander, worked his way through five efficient innings, scattering four hits and allowing just one run. His poise on the mound allowed Clemson to settle in defensively, while the offense chipped away at South Carolina’s ace, Jack Mahoney, in critical moments.
Mahoney, known for his command and competitive fire, delivered a strong outing himself. He lasted six innings, surrendering three runs—two of which came in a pivotal fourth inning that ultimately defined the game. The Gamecocks’ bullpen kept the Tigers scoreless the rest of the way, but the damage had already been done.
Clemson struck first in the top of the second when Blake Wright lined a double to left-center and later scored on a fielder’s choice. South Carolina responded in the bottom of the third with a game-tying RBI single from Ethan Petry, continuing his stellar season at the plate.
The turning point came in the fourth. With two on and one out, Clemson’s Cam Cannarella delivered a clutch two-RBI double off the wall in right-center, silencing the home crowd and giving the Tigers a 3-1 advantage. Cannarella, who has been a steady contributor all season, showed his knack for coming through in high-leverage spots.
South Carolina clawed one back in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Gavin Casas, trimming the lead to 3-2. But every attempt to even the score from that point on was met with resistance from Clemson’s bullpen.
Ryan Ammons and Reed Garris combined for four innings of shutout relief, with Garris earning the save. Their ability to mix pitches and induce weak contact prevented South Carolina from mounting a late rally. Ammons, a hard-throwing lefty, struck out the side in the seventh, and Garris closed the door in the ninth with a pair of groundouts sandwiched around a walk.
Defensively, both teams were sharp, flashing leather all over the field. Clemson shortstop Benjamin Blackwell made two highlight-reel plays deep in the hole to rob the Gamecocks of potential hits. South Carolina’s Michael Braswell responded with a diving stop of his own in the eighth that prevented another Clemson insurance run.
Base-running was another area where Clemson held a slight edge. The Tigers stole two bases, including a critical swipe by Cannarella in the sixth that helped prevent a potential double play and extended the inning. South Carolina was caught stealing in the fifth, which proved costly as the next batter doubled.
For Clemson head coach Erik Bakich, the win was emblematic of his team’s resilience.
“We knew this was going to be a grind. South Carolina is one of the toughest teams in the country,” Bakich said postgame. “But our guys stuck to the game plan, trusted each other, and made big-time plays when we needed them. I’m proud of the way we competed.”
South Carolina head coach Mark Kingston acknowledged the fine margins that separated the two sides.
“It came down to execution. We had chances, but they made pitches and we didn’t capitalize,” Kingston said. “It’s frustrating, but that’s baseball. We’ll learn from this and be better.”
The win marks Clemson’s third victory over a ranked opponent this season and improves their overall record to 25-9. The Tigers continue to climb in the national rankings and are gaining confidence as they approach the heart of conference play.
South Carolina, now 24-10, has dropped two of their last three games but remains a formidable threat with one of the deepest lineups in the country. The Gamecocks’ pitching staff continues to be their backbone, and despite the loss, the outing from Mahoney and the bullpen should inspire confidence moving forward.
One of the more underrated aspects of the game was Clemson’s ability to execute in situational hitting scenarios. While both teams had the same number of hits—six—Clemson bunched theirs together at key moments. Cannarella’s double was the only extra-base hit of the night, but it was the difference-maker.
In a sport that often comes down to inches and instincts, Clemson simply made one more play than South Carolina. And in a rivalry defined by passion and parity, that’s all it took.
Looking ahead, Clemson will return home to face Wake Forest in a weekend series that could have major ACC implications. Meanwhile, South Carolina will regroup before taking on Georgia in what promises to be another intense SEC clash.
The game served as a reminder of what makes college baseball so captivating. Two elite programs, fueled by tradition and hungry for postseason glory, battling pitch-by-pitch with everything on the line. There were no fireworks, no crooked numbers—just nine innings of high-level baseball where every pitch mattered.
In the end, Clemson walked away with the win. But the real winners might have been the fans, who were treated to a masterclass in competitive baseball.
The Tigers will take the momentum into the next leg of their journey, while South Carolina will look to bounce back and continue its pursuit of a deep postseason run. If this game was any indication, these two may very well meet again—with even more at stake.