Grayson Greiner goes three-for-four with five RBIs in 9-6 South Carolina win
It wasn’t the way the No. 3 Gamecocks have grown accustomed to winning this season, but ultimately South Carolina worked out the hiccups in their starting pitching to pull away from No. 11 Clemson, 9-6.
South Carolina surrendered a season-high six runs, and Jordan Montgomery was tagged for five runs—more than he had given up over more than 35 innings—but they received several timely hits and solid relief pitching to remain undefeated and, arguably more important, beat Clemson.
The Gamecocks (8-0) struck first in the bottom of the first inning after Kyle Martin drove in Max Schrock on an RBI single.
Clemson (6-2) retaliated in the top half of the second inning, snapping a couple South Carolina season records in the process.
South Carolina’s 52-inning scoreless streak, as well as Jordan Montgomery’s 35 1/3 scoreless inning streak, came to a halt.
Montgomery shined through the first three innings, keeping Tiger hitters off-balanced with his well-placed offspeed pitches.
However, he fell victim to a four-run inning and surrendered one more run in the top of the fifth inning, increasing Clemson’s lead to a game-high five runs. He had five walks, which was two more than he had all season coming into this game.
A moment that proved pivotal for the Gamecocks, Montgomery suddenly found himself pitching down 6-1 with runners on second and third base with no outs. He went on to strike out the next three batters, ending the Clemson rally.
“That’s the thing about our team, they’re definitely never going to give up,” Montgomery said. “Especially against Clemson.”
Daniel Gossett had complete control of the Gamecocks during the early goings of the game, when it looked like the game would turn into a pitcher’s duel.
By the end of the night Gossett tossed eight strikeouts, which Montgomery was able to top with nine.
Head coach Chad Holbrook called Gossett’s stuff “electric.”
The Gamecocks finally broke through to Gossett in the bottom of the fifth when South Carolina loaded the bases for third-team Preseason All-American Grayson Greiner. On a two-zero count, Greiner sat back and unloaded a grand slam that sailed over the Clemson bullpen.
“It’s not exactly what I was trying to do, but it happened,” Greiner admitted. “Once we got that big hit, everyone in the dugout knew we could win it.”
The big hit pulled the Gamecocks to within one run, but they knew they needed more to topple their in-state rival Clemson.
A fielder’s choice by Bright in the bottom of the sixth brought home Elliot Caldwell and tied the game at six. More importantly, it set the table for Greiner, who stepped to the plate with runners on the corners and the game in his hands.
Greiner laced a ground ball in between shortstop and third base, a ball Tyler Krieger couldn’t handle. Schrock scored as Greiner hustled down the line, putting the Gamecocks up for good.
South Carolina tacked on two more runs in the seventh and eighth inning, one off of a solo home run courtesy of Tanner English.
The Gamecock bullpen took the reins after that, combining for 3 2/3 scoreless innings of one-hit baseball. Cody Mincey struck out four and gave up one hit, while Joel Seddon shut the door in the ninth.
Holbrook praised Greiner’s baseball intelligence after the game, calling Greiner the “heart and soul of our team.”
“I wouldn’t trade anybody for Grayson Greiner,” Holbrook said. “I feel like I learn from Grayson Greiner every day, and there’s not many players I can say that about.”