By Will Vandervort.
Moments after Clemson wrapped up its first victory over South Carolina in two years, the fireworks just outside the Chapman Grandstands lit the sky. And though those that stayed at Doug Kingsmore Stadium enjoyed the 10-minutes display, they had already seen plenty of fireworks before then.
Clemson totaled three home runs, two from Weston Wilson and one from Chris Okey, while banging out 12 hits in an 11-4 victory over the 10th-ranked Gamecocks. The Tigers’ three home runs were the first against the Gamecocks since 2012.
“We have hit the ball all season long and they have done a good job pitching, we just took advantage of the pitches we saw,” said Wilson, who had four RBIs to go along with the two home runs. “Hopefully, we can keep doing that all season long.”
One guy that hopes they can keep it going is pitcher Matthew Crownover. Though the Clemson lefty did not have his best stuff, it really did not matter. Wilson and company made sure there was no late-game dramatics this time by South Carolina, who has always seemed to find a way to win a game when all is lost.
Crownover gave up four earned runs and six hits in getting his second win of the season. Though he threw 106 pitches, he made it through just five innings, walking four to go with his seven strikeouts.
“They found a way. That is a tribute to them,” the lefty said about his teammates. “That is probably one of the best lines we have faced all year. If you are going to have a bad night, it is good to have some run support behind you.
“I give a lot of credit to our hitters. What a night Weston Wilson and Tyler Krieger had. What a great night to be a Clemson Tiger.”
Last year the Gamecocks (6-2) rallied from a five-run deficit in the Friday game to win the game and then at Clemson that following Sunday they scored four runs late to down the Tigers for a fourth straight time.
But this night belonged to Clemson. After USC had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the first, Crownover struck out Kyle Martin and Connor Bright to retire the side and end the threat.
Clemson then followed with a four-run bottom half of the inning and then got back-to-back jacks from Okey and Wilson in the third inning to build an 8-0 lead. Okey’s home run was a three-run shot to left field.
The Tigers (6-2) later got a slow roller down the third base line from Andrew Cox, proving it was going to be their night this time.
That was proven again later in the game, too. With Clemson still leading 8-3 in the top of the fifth inning, the Gamecocks loaded the bases but first baseman Kyle Martin popped up to left field for the first out. USC pushed one run across when Wilson booted the ball at third on a fielder’s choice from Bright, scoring Gene Cone.
However, Crownover was able to get Alex Destino and DC Arendas to strikeout, ending the threat and securing his four-run lead.
The Gamecocks (6-2) loaded the bases again with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, but relief pitcher Alex Schnell got out of the jam when Martin hit Max Schrock, who was running to second base. Martin’s hit could have been a two-run scoring single, but instead it ended the inning and kept the Tigers in front, 8-4.
“The game is funny and it evens out here and there, but it has not evened out in a little while so it was good to have a few of them go our way,” Leggett said.
Wilson’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning put the game to bed.
“It took a lot of pressure off of us because we have had tight games late and getting those few extra runs helped us play our game,” he said.