CLEMSON — Ty Dalley hit his first home run in a Clemson uniform and drove in two runs to help the No. 15 Tigers take down the rival Gamecocks 7-2 on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The win clinched the annual rivalry series for the Tigers for the third consecutive year.
Dalley finished 1-for-2 with two runs driven in, a run scored, a stolen base and he walked twice.
After falling behind early, Clemson scored seven unanswered runs, with Tyler Lichtenberger’s two-run single in the bottom of the third putting the Tigers up for good. Tryston McCladdie also drove in two runs in the win, while Nate Savoie went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Talan Bell got the start, going four innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three. Drew Titsworth pitched three hitless innings of relief to notch his second win of the season, while Joe Allen threw a perfect eighth. Freshman Danny Nelson struck out two of the three hitters he faced in the ninth to finish it off.
Bell quickly found himself in a jam in the top of the second. KJ Scobey led off the frame with a single. Bell then struck out Beau Hollins and got Patrick Evans to fly out to left. He quickly got ahead of the next hitter 0-2, and was one pitch from getting out of the inning when Logan Sutter doubled into left, putting runners at second and third. Bell was again one pitch away from getting out of the inning when Dawson Harmon ripped an 0-2 pitch into left, driving in both runners and giving the Gamecocks an early 2-0 lead.
Clemson would quickly load the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning, with Dalley up to the plate. Facing a 0-2 count, South Carolina starter Riley Goodman airmailed a pitch, allowing Jacob Jarrell to score from third. Dalley then drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, tying the game at 2-2.
The Tigers took their first lead an inning later. McCladdie led off the bottom of the third by drawing a five-pitch walk. The Gamecocks then turned to sophomore Zach Russell out of the bullpen. Savoie welcomed him by doubling down the right-field line, putting runners at second and third. After Luke Gaffney grounded out, Lichtenberger singled into left-center, driving in both runs and putting Clemson up 4-2.
Dalley’s first home run in a Clemson uniform extended the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth. He took the first pitch he saw 383 feet out to right. Dalley then made a leaping catch against the wall with two outs in the top of the fifth, saving a run from scoring.
Clemson added to its lead in the sixth. After the Tigers loaded the bases, McCladdie laced a single into right, plating two runs and making it 7-2.
Owning the Series
Clemson has now won nine of the past 12 season series against the Gamecocks. The Tigers have also won seven of the last eight games and 12 of the past 15 against their biggest rivals.
Clemson has beaten South Carolina in football, basketball and baseball during this academic calendar year.
Welcome Back Hudson Lee
Former Clemson pitcher Hudson Lee, who transferred to South Carolina after last season, came on to face his former team in the bottom of the fourth. Dalley welcomed him back to Doug Kingsmore by hitting one 383 feet out to right. Lee had not given up a run across four appearances prior to Sunday.
Injury Report
Freshman Jason Fultz appeared to injure his left wrist sliding into home during the sixth inning. He was back out on the field for the seventh, but was replaced in the eighth by Jay Dillard.
