Cheers rolled through Doug Kingsmore Stadium Sunday afternoon as Nolan Nawrocki’s bat met ball, propelling No. 10 Clemson to a dramatic series-clinching 5-4 win over archrivals No. 12 South Carolina and securing a 2-0 lead in the season series. Clemson’s powerful statement in a thrilling weekend matchup has cemented their series lead and elevated their season record to an impressive 9-1.
The Gamecocks, despite their stoic efforts, saw their record dip to 7-3, with the promise of a revenge date at Founders Park hanging in the balmy South Carolina air.
The opening act was a fireworks display with Cole Messina’s two-run homer for the Gamecocks. But Clemson, with the heart of a tiger, didn’t stagger. The response was electric – Will Taylor’s bat roared as he sent a solo shot deep into the Chapman grandstands, narrowing the gap to one run and igniting the orange-clad faithful.
The drama heightened in the fourth, as the Tigers clawed back on a Gamecock miscue, turning an unforced error into a rallying cry. The Tigers leveled the playing field with two unearned runs, highlighted by Andrew Ciufo’s clutch two-out RBI single that turned the game on its head.
The tension peaked in the sixth inning when Nawrocki’s bat scripted the turning point – a solo homer that sailed straight into Clemson lore, etching his name in the storied rivalry. Then, as if to bookmark Clemson’s dominance, Blake Wright crushed a leadoff homer in the eighth – his third of the year – padding the cushion and sending a message that echoed far beyond the diamond.
While the batters penned the headlines, Drew Titsworth quietly sketched a masterpiece on the mound, delivering 1.1 innings of hitless pitching. His efforts earned him a merited first career win, preparing the scene for Austin Gordon to add the finishing touch, securing the deal with his first save of the year and his initial save in more than two years..
On the other side of the ledger, South Carolina’s Roman Kimball bore the weight of the loss, but not before showcasing a performance that, while short of victory, was full of heart.
A new chapter awaits as the Tigers prepare to play host to Kansas State on Wednesday, eager to ride the wave of a 10th consecutive regular-season, weekend series triumph dating back to 2023.
