COLUMBIA — Not only did Clemson’s eight-game winning streak come to a grinding halt in on a dreary night in Columbia on Friday, but so did the Tigers’ five-game winning streak over the rival Gamecocks.

Very little went right for Erik Bakich’s team in the 7-0 loss to South Carolina, which marked the first time Clemson had been shut out in almost two years.

“Ready to get to (Saturday),” Bakich said after the loss. “This is one of those you just flush and put in the rear view mirror as quick as you can. We obviously didn’t play well in any of the phases tonight. Sometimes that happens. It doesn’t happen very often but part of it is you tip your cap to Josh Gunther.”

Gunther was dominant in his first career start. The Wake Forest transfer went seven strong, allowing just three hits while striking out 10.

After having struck out just 36 times over the first eight games of the season, the Tigers were fanned a total of 15 times in the one-sided defeat. Clemson mustered just those three hits, while going 1-for-12 with guys on base and 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Bakich’s squad was also charged with two costly fielding errors, which brings the season total to 13 in the first nine games.

Starter Aidan Knaak certainly didn’t have his best stuff. While he struck out eight across five innings of work, the veteran also walked three batters, hit another and had a wild pitch that led to the first run in the four-run third inning that ultimately decided the contest. Reliever Justin LeGuernic then walked two and had a wild pitch in his 1.2 innings of work, which led to three more runs (one earned) for South Carolina.

“I was hoping we would go undefeated, but nobody goes undefeated,” Bakich added. “It is only inevitable that you are going to be on the wrong side of some games, but it is always how you play. In a big game like this, obviously a rivalry game, we have such a target on this game. So, to play so poorly on the opening night of the series is disappointing for sure.”

Now Bakich is anxious to see how his team will respond after facing its first real adversity of the young season.

“Anytime you just get completely punched in the face and knocked to the ground, it certainly surprises you,” Bakich said. “But we will get back up.”

There won’t be much time to dwell, seeing as these same two teams are set to square off again on Saturday at Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies.

Bakich has not lost a series to the rival Gamecocks since his first season at the helm, and that is something he is hoping won’t change on Saturday. And after Friday night’s result, there should be no shortage of motivation.

“We need stuff like this to happen in order for us to be a better version,” Bakich said. “Our guys are pissed.”

“I also have a high believability in our group, and I think we will regroup, flush it and be ready to go tomorrow.”

Photo courtesy of Peter McLean/Clemson Athletics