The South Carolina baseball team will enter the rivalry series this weekend with a perfect record along with one of the nation’s hottest hitter. The Gamecocks launched seven home runs, including four at the end of the eighth inning, to dispatch Winthrop 12-4 on Tuesday night at Founders Park.
Junior Wes Clarke hit three home runs that night, totaling six in the season and 14 in his last 20 games. He did 3 in 3 in the game with a couple of paces and also scored four runs. With four games this season, the Gamecocks (4-0) have 14 home runs as a team.
“He’s playing really, really well now,” the head coach Mark Kingston Clarke said. “He’s stuck. It is strong and it is a simple blow. He is a player who loves to play and is locked up. “
In four games played, Clarke is hitting .769 with 10 hits in his 13 hits. He has two doubles, six home runs and 12 RBIs. Clarke, who also debuted in the season as a catcher in the victory over the Eagles (1-3), has seven matches without eliminations.
It’s an impressive race he’s in, but it’s also an impressive start to the season for South Carolina. The team has had 41 races in the first four games of the year.
“It was the first day that we played in hot weather for a long, long time,” said Kingston. “You thought it would be a day that could be a little more offensive to us, and that proved to be true. I just saw a lot of good hitting throughout the lineup. You want to have a lineup that goes from one to nine, and I think we have that. It was great to see those guys do a lot of good swings and do what we did. “
Gamecocks opened the score in a double RBI by Jeff Heinrich focus on the second inning and then extend it into a pair of solo home runs in the next inning – one from Clarke and one from Andrew Eyster. The advantage of three races would be short-lived, as the next three races were for visitors.
Eagles hitter Dillon Morton dropped an RBI single to the left at the top of the fourth inning and Scott McFalls later came to score on a ball passed by Clarke. A mistake by Heinrich allowed a race to score at the top of fifth place to tie the score at three each.
Gamecocks would put it into action again offensively at the bottom of the fifth and put the game out of reach. Second year Braylen Wimmer, who led the fifth inning with a double, went around the top to score in a ball miss David Mendham. Junior Josiah Sightler, making his first start to the season as the designated hitter, lost a single of two to the center to score a run. Heinrich’s liner made the third run of the shift.
In the sixth, Clarke would arrive with his second home run of the game, the fifth of the season, on the left field wall. Eyster then hit a double-cut RBI to catch Mendham, who he chose.
Gamecocks used seven arms outside the bullpen with elderly people John Gilreath taking the victory. He recorded four eliminations in his goalless appearance, without giving up on a rebound. He walked with a pair and hit two.
“It’s a long season and we’re still learning about this team, still learning roles,” said Kingston. “What I like about the pitching team is that we managed to match the guys. We have several lefties and we feel very good about leaving the bullpen to match it. I think we have a lot of options and we want to put them in situations where they can succeed ”.
The Gamecocks made seven home runs as a team after placing four at the bottom of the eighth inning. The last time South Carolina had a seven home run game was against Winthrop on May 5, 2010.
In addition to Clarke’s shot, Wimmer hit just before him, while Mendham and Sightler hit one after.
“I was really excited,” said Clarke after his third home run came off the bat. “It didn’t cross my mind much beyond ‘Come on!’ It was just that. “
Sightler, who made 3 out of 5 with a home run and two RBIs in his first offensive game this season, closed the game with a ninth goalless entry thrown. He walked one, but hit two to send the Gamecocks to the weekend series with haste.
“I would say this is the first time in my three years here that I really have confidence in the dish,” said Sightler. “Upon entering, I saw my name in the squad and wanted to take the opportunity. If I think I can get a good swing on a field, I would like to take advantage of every swing I can make and help the team win. “
The baseball rivalry between South Carolina and Clemson is set to start this Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The first pitch is set for 16h and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Saturday’s game takes place at Fluor Field with South Carolina as the home team. The first step is set for 4 pm on SEC Network +. The end of the series at Founders Park has its first pitch at 1:30 pm on SEC Network +.