Clemson faced a significant challenge entering the third game of the series after using six pitchers in the previous game. Coach Bakich expressed uncertainty about who would start the game after Clemson’s exhaustive efforts in the previous matchup against the Gamecocks. The Tigers’ pitching staff was depleted and unable to produce a long-lasting pitcher, forcing them to start with Billy Barlow and use five other pitchers during the game. Although Clemson had a pitcher who went over two full innings and threw more than 35 pitches, they conceded three home runs. The depleted pitching staff was a significant disadvantage for the Tigers in the third game.
Unfortunately for Clemson, their offensive struggles persisted in the third game despite an impressive first game and a decent second game. None of the batters in the lineup were able to secure more than one hit, which was a significant concern. The Gamecock pitching squad had a dominant performance, restricting the Tigers’ offense from producing any runs. The USC team earned ten strikeouts, which added to the difficulties faced by Clemson. The third game was a challenging encounter for the Tigers, who found themselves at a considerable disadvantage.
Furthermore, the third game’s result was a crushing defeat for Clemson as they lost to USC by a score of 7-1 and lost the series 2-1. The Tigers’ inability to produce runs resulted in an uphill battle against the Gamecocks and their exhausted pitching staff was unable to keep pace with USC’s batting. Although Clemson had a strong showing in the first two games, the third game proved to be a challenging match, ultimately resulting in a loss for the Tigers.
