The Tigers lost a close game against the Gamecocks Friday night in game one of the rivalry series.
In Jacob Hennessy’s first career start away from Doug Kingsmore, he pitched 5.0 innings and gave up one unearned run on three hits. He also walked two and struck out two.
South Carolina struck first in the fifth inning. With two on base and two outs, Justin Row hit a routine pop-up on the infield, but the ball was misjudged and dropped by Grayson Byrd, allowing the Gamecocks to take a 1-0 lead.
South Carolina starter Adam Hill made easy work of the Tigers through the first five innings of the game. He struck out 11 Tiger batters and only allowed two baserunners. 
The Tigers were finally able to get to Hill in the sixth. Davidson led off the inning with a walk, and Seth Beer proved why he is considered one of the best hitters in college baseball. He sent a two-run bomb into the Gamecocks’ bullpen to give Clemson a 2-1 lead.
The Tigers held that lead with Owen Griffith coming in for Hennessy. In the eighth inning, Matt Williams pinch hit for Justin Row and hit a solo homerun to tie the game at 2-2.
Griffith exited the game after the homer. He pitched 2.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits.
Mat Clark and Ryley Gilliam combined to get out of the eighth inning without anymore damage.
To start the ninth, Gilliam walked Jonah Bride. A pickoff attempt sailed over Williams’ head and Bride hustled to third base. With the winning run 90 feet away, T.J. Hopkins hit a sac-fly to left to score Bride and win the game 3-2.
Game two of the series is Saturday in Greenville at Flour Field at 3:00 p.m.