COLUMBIA, South Carolina — No. 23 South Carolina hit three home runs in the first four innings in its 7-1 victory over Clemson at Founders Park on Sunday afternoon. The Gamecocks, who won the series 2-1, improved to 11-1, while the Tigers fell to 5-6.
After the Gamecocks grabbed a 1-0 halftime lead, Riley Bertram’s two-run home run in the top of the second period tied the score. South Carolina regained the lead in the bottom of the second inning on a home run by Gavin Casas.
Casas lined out in the fourth inning, his second of the game, then Talmadge Lecroy with a solo homer to take the Gamecock lead to 5-1. Caleb Denny’s double in the fifth added a run, then the Gamecocks scored a run in the eighth on LeCroy’s single.
James Hicks (3-0) got the win in relief with his last-round 5.0 pitch, while Tiger star Billy Barlow (0-1) took the loss.
Cam Canarella, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, won the Bob Bradley Trophy as Clemson’s Series MVP. He was 6-for-13 with three doubles, two RBI and a steal in three games. LeCroy won the Tom Price Award as Most Valuable Player of the Series for South Carolina.
The Tigers return home for two games midweek at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, starting Tuesday against East Tennessee State at 4 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
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