COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Alex Destino went 5-for-5 with four RBIs and starter Clarke Schmidt handcuffed his brother Clate’s Clemson team as South Carolina opened the rivalry series with an 8-1 victory Friday night.
Schmidt had a career high nine strike outs over eight innings to improve 3-0 and start a potentially big weekend for his family. Older brother Clate will pitch for the Tigers in Saturday’s game. Clate made it through treatments for nodular sclerosis, a form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and announced in August he was cancer free.
The Tigers (6-2) had their chances early against Clarke Schmidt with two runners on in the first and third innings.
But South Carolina (10-0) turned a tight game into a blowout with a five-run fifth inning, helped by three Clemson errors.
The Gamecocks have won seven of the past 10 games with the Tigers and spoiled the rivalry debut of new Clemson coach Monte Lee.