Clate Schmidt matches brother as Clemson evens series with USC
Another day, another Schmidt.
A day after his younger brother Clarke threw a gem for South Carolina, Clemson’s Clate Schmidt turned in a strong performance of his own Saturday in the Tigers’ 5-0 series-tying win over the Gamecocks at Fluor Field.
It was the first loss of the season for USC (10-1), while Clemson improved to 7-2. The decisive third game is 2 p.m. Sunday at Clemson’s Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The senior Schmidt took a no-hitter into the sixth and finished with six strikeouts and one hit allowed in 5 1/3 innings. Both Schmidts are 3-0 on the season. Clarke, a sophomore, threw eight shutout innings and struck out nine batters in the 8-1 USC win Friday.
Clate Schmidt admitted to having “tunnel vision” looking toward Saturday’s game and the series above thinking about their brotherly competitiveness.
“It’s always in the back of my mind, but my main concern was to be able to swing momentum into our dugout going into Sunday,” he said. “It made it even sweeter that our team came out and performed extremely well.”
Saturday’s game was played in front of 7,216, a Fluor Field record.
Since the current three-game format was adopted in 2010, the Gamecocks have won four of six series. The only game in that span when Clemson won in Greenville was 2013, with then-freshman Clate Schmidt on the mound for the Tigers.
The Schmidt brothers grew closer last year after Clate had a successful fight with cancer. A 2015 draft selection of the Boston Red Sox, he opted to return to Clemson for his senior season.
“Clate was phenomenal with the way he performed,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said. “He’s an inspiration to a lot of people, and he certainly pitched well on a big stage. With all that he’s been through and the way he performed, it’s certainly impressive.”
Clemson got its first run from a bases-loaded walk in the first off USC freshman Braden Webb (2-1). The Tigers plated another run in the second off a throwing error from Gamecocks second baseman LT Tolbert.
Tigers catcher Chris Okey drove in two runs with a triple in the fifth. Center fielder Chase Pinder followed in the sixth with a solo home run off reliever Brandon Murray.
USC second baseman Jonah Bride broke up Schmidt’s no-hitter with a double in the sixth. The Gamecocks managed to load the bases, but Clemson reliever Pat Krall struck out Alex Destino and Chris Cullen to end the threat.
Destino, who struck out three times Saturday, had USC’s other hit with a ninth-inning single.
“We just couldn’t muster much offense against their pitchers,” Holbrook said. “You’ve got to give credit to the other team when you get your tail kicked. I’m interested to see how my team will respond. (Sunday) will be a good barometer in how they go about handling this setback.”
THREE POINTS
Star of the game: Despite four walks, Clate Schmidt set the tone for the Tigers and had command of his pitches throughout.
Play of the game: Clemson coach Monte Lee removed Schmidt and turned to reliever Pat Krall with the bases loaded in the fifth. Krall responded with two big strikeouts.
Stat of the game: 2. South Carolina mustered two hits after a 12-hit night in the Game 1 win.
OBSERVATIONS
Deep center: The deeper centerfield at Fluor Field (420 feet) gave Clark Scolamiero fits. The sophomore couldn’t pull in one deep shot and had another sail over his head.
Lookin’ the same: Except for Scolamiero in center, USC coach Chad Holbrook went with the same lineup that was successful in Game 1.
Webb competitive: Freshman Braden Webb was inconsistent at times with five walks in his shortest outing of 4 1/3 innings. He kept USC in the game, however, with a career-best seven strikeouts.
NEXT
What: South Carolina vs. Clemson, Game 3
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Clemson
Probable pitchers: USC, Taylor Widener (Jr. RHP, 0-0, 1.86 ERA, 9 2/3 IP, 9 hits, 2 BB, 10 Ks). Clemson, Alex Eubanks (RS Fr. RHP, 1-0, 0.96 ERA, 9 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 1 BB, 12 Ks)
Watch: ESPN3 (digital); can be viewed through the WatchESPN app or online at WatchESPN.com
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area
This story was originally published March 5, 2016 at 5:30 PM.