CLEMSON, S.C. — After a 5-4, 12-inning victory for Clemson on Saturday at Segra Park, it was another close game Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium with the Tigers pulling out another 5-4 win.
The Gamecocks started with a 2-0 lead in the first on Cole Messina’s fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot to center. Clemson responded with a solo home run by Dutch Fork graduate Will Taylor in the bottom of the first, cutting Carolina’s lead in half.
Former Tiger outfielder Dylan Brewer extended the lead to 3-1 in the third with a single to left, scoring Will Tippett. The Tigers put up two runs in the fourth and took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on a Nolan Nawrocki home run.
Clemson went up 5-3 in the eighth on Blake Wright’s solo home run. Carolina got one back in the ninth as Ethan Petry belted his fifth home run of the year. Cole Messina then walked but a groundout ended the game.
Drew Titsworth (1-0) pitched 1.1 hitless and scoreless innings in relief to earn his first career win, while Austin Gordon pitched the ninth inning to record his first save of the year.
Dylan Eskew struck out four in his 3.2-inning start. He allowed one earned run with two hits and a walk. Roman Kimball struck out five, allowing three hits and two runs in 3.1 innings to take the loss. Ty Good pitched a scoreless eighth inning in the game.