South Carolina beats up on Clemson, ending Palmetto Series drought ... finally
Friday was a South Carolina reprieve.
It came late in the night, after a mysterious rainstorm — one that somehow evaded forecasts and weather apps — dumped on Founders Park and delayed first pitch by nearly two hours. Considering what came next, it’s hard not to feel that the Gamecocks took part in a pregame cleansing, washing away bad juju that has — over the past few weeks — felt perpetual.
Because, at long last, South Carolina beat Clemson 7-0 in the first game of the Palmetto Series.
It was the first time in 438 days since a big-three men’s sport at South Carolina beat Clemson. It was the first time the Gamecocks’ baseball team (7-3) beat the Tigers (8-1) in their last six meetings. And, after Clemson swept the series in 2025, Saturday was Paul Mainieri’s first win over the rival Tigers since taking over as USC’s skipper.
“I’m not gonna play this one down. That was a special win,” Mainieri said. “That was a great environment tonight. The fans were loud. It really energized our team and showed them what South Carolina baseball is all about.”
And, boy, has a February baseball game at South Carolina ever felt so necessary?
Before Friday, this Gamecocks baseball season had been a mess. The team lost to Northern Kentucky during opening weekend, triggering Mainieri to call his team “tired” and “lethargic.” Less than a week later, Carolina allowed nine runs in a loss to Army. And, yet, none of that compared to the humiliation of Wednesday, as the Gamecocks lost to a Queens team that finished 9-44 last year.
Then came the rain.
Friday just felt different, which tends to happen after fans get a few extra hours to tailgate and remind themselves of their disdain for Clemson. But beyond the energy inside Founders Park hitting levels never seen under Mainieri, South Carolina played with this swagger that’s been absent all year. Perhaps the rivalry is solely to blame. Maybe Friday was the first sign of change.
The clutch hits came: Ethan Lizama and KJ Scobey both had RBI-singles in the third and Scobey added an RBI double in the sixth. As did dominant starting pitching: Josh Gunther, making his first start of the season, cemented himself as Carolina’s ace, tossing a seven-inning shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out 10.
“Being at Carolina, I know how much this series means to the fans and everyone in the baseball program,” Gunther said.
But, again, there was that swagger. That sort of energy and enthusiasm that Mainieri has been craving.
After an inning-ending strikeout in the fourth, catcher Talmadge LeCroy grabbed the ball and held it in the sky like a chalice he was about to toast, then chucked it about 10 feet in the air. Three innings later, after Gunther struck out the final batter he faced, he didn’t so much run off the field as he skipped, hopping while pumping up the crowd and pointing at the script Carolina on his chest.
For the first time in a long time, it was easy to root for the Gamecocks.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 11:38 PM.
