The Daily Gamecock

South Carolina stumbles, loses final Clemson weekend series game

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Fifth ranked South Carolina (7-3) came into Monday’s rubber match with Clemson eager to extend their series-winning streak over the Tigers to seven. Instead, the Gamecocks ran into a buzz saw named Brody Koerner and lost 7-0.

South Carolina was on the defensive the entire game, as Clemson jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. From there, the Gamecocks struggled to keep the game close before the Tigers broke it open in the seventh inning, taking home the win.

Rain postponed the game, which was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Officials and players alike applauded the decision, as temperatures were in the low 60s Monday afternoon.

South Carolina sent sophomore Josh Reagan to the mound again as the third starter in the rotation. However, Reagan pitched just three innings, allowing two runs on five hits. It was the second straight game Reagan failed to play through to the fifth inning.

Clemson starting pitcher Koerner fared better. The junior right-hander mowed down Gamecocks on his way to a complete-game shutout. The Gamecock hitters had no answer for Koerner as he challenged them inside all game.

Koerner came into the game with a respectable 2.25 ERA. When the dust settled and he struck out designated hitter Alex Destino to end the game, his ERA had been lowered to an incredible 1.29.

The Gamecocks amassed just four singles against the Concord, North Carolina native and hit a total of just seven balls out of the infield.

South Carolina put a runner in scoring position just once the whole game, when momentum seemed to be shifting in the sixth inning. Sophomore Gene Cone walked to leadoff the inning — his third time on base — and senior Elliott Caldwell singled. But with runners on first and second, junior Max Schrock grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. 

“I mean, you got tip your cap to their pitcher,” said Schrock. “You know he pretty much stuffed us. He was mixing pitches and throwing strikes and he had us off balance.”

Schrock, hitting .299 last season, is just 5-31 to start the season.

Head coach Chad Holbrook supported Schrock.

“I didn’t bunt Max [Schrock] there with first and second and nobody out 'cause he’s our best hitter,” reiterated Holbrook. “I said 'Bud, you’re our best hitter — you’re here to hit. You’re hitting in the three-hole.'”

Cone continued his strong start to the season with a single to leadoff the bottom of the first inning. Cone went 1-2 with a pair of walks. His hit extended his hitting streak to 11 games, dating back to last season.

The sophomore from Columbia is hitting .389 this season with seven runs scored. 

The Gamecock relief pitchers kept the game close, getting out of jams seemingly every inning. However, the usually-solid defense was suspect. The Gamecocks had four errors, the same as their hit total.

“Sometimes your best defense isn’t out on the field when you can’t swing the bat,” said Holbrook. “There’s no excuse in that. And we do have some talented infielders, but it sure didn’t look like it today.”

South Carolina won’t have time to dwell on the loss, as they’ll face Charleston Southern Tuesday at 7 p.m. The team will then continue its 12 game home stand with a Wednesday game against High Point. 


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