South Carolina, swept by Clemson, leaves rivalry series with a glaring concern
Paul Mainieri stood on the grass of Fluor Field in Greenville Saturday — having already lost his first Palmetto State series before every even facing Clemson at home — and sounded like a man who lost his wallet and was prepared to trek through a sewer if that’s what was needed.
“We’re gonna have to find it from somewhere, that’s for sure,” he said.
The South Carolina coach was talking about his offense, not misplaced but absent nonetheless.
And after Sunday’s 8-2 loss to No. 12 Clemson (10-1) at Founders Park, the offense is still nowhere to be found. With the loss, the Tigers have now swept the Gamecocks two straight times and three of the last four years.
“You’re gonna lose baseball games during the season,” Mainieri said. “It just hurts a little bit more when you lose to Clemson.”
The Gamecocks (9-3) were swept by their Upstate rivals this weekend not because they didn’t have chances, but because in the few opportunities it created, USC couldn’t capitalize.
In its series-opening loss Friday to the Tigers, South Carolina lost by two runs despite stranding 11 batters. On Saturday, the Gamecocks began the game with the bases loaded and no outs — and they couldn’t muster a single run.
Sunday was more of the same — moments of optimism, moments for someone, anyone to be the hero. USC put two men on base in the second and third innings and, both times, they struck out to end the frame. An inning later, Clemson walked a batter with two outs. Up walked Ethan Petry, the man capable of making the Tigers pay. And, well, he struck out swinging.
“It takes something special out of a player to rise up in those situations,” Mainieri said.
There were concerns about South Carolina’s bats throughout this young season, but it was almost painted as a positive as the Gamecocks started 9-0. Sure, USC wasn’t run-ruling teams on a nightly basis, but it was winning tight ballgames, piecing together late-game rallies when needed.
Was it impressive? Yes. Did it possibly gloss over this lineup’s struggles? Perhaps.
Still, whatever you thought of USC’s offense before this weekend, no one anticipated South Carolina hitting just .160 (15 for 94) against the Tigers. Or hitting .121 (4 for 33) with runners in scoring position. Or striking out 36 times. Or, well, scoring just a half-dozen runs.
“There’s a lot of o-fers on that box score. There has been all week,” Mainieri said. “It can be fleeting then, all of a sudden, it starts to click. Hopefully we have the ability to do it. All we can do is put the guys out there (we think) are the best guys and encourage them and hopefully they’ll come through more frequently.”
Even more problematic: Of South Carolina’s limited offense, most of the damage was courtesy of just two guys: Petry and leadoff hitter Nathan Hall, a Clemson transfer. That duo combined to for seven hits and three walks this weekend. The rest of South Carolina totaled eight hits and six walks.
“You’ve got to get more than a third of your lineup performing,” Mainieri said.
Sunday was supposed to be the day that shifted.
In his effort to find some offense, Mainieri threw a wrench at his lineup. Because of injuries to catcher Talmadge LeCroy and left fielder Kennedy Jones, he started Max Kaufer and Ryan Bakes, respectively. He switched Jordan Carrion for KJ Scobey at third base, flipped Will Tippett for Henry Kaczmar at shortstop and added Jase Woita in at designated hitter.
Other than Hall (leadoff) and Petry (No. 3 hitter), every other spot in the lineup was different from Saturday. And still, Mainieri and the Gamecocks managed five hits and are still searching for their offense.
“You are who you are,” Mainieri said. “Guys are trying the best they can. But there’s guys struggling. ... Guys who had really good falls and even good preseasons have struggled thus far.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2025 at 7:53 PM.
