Clemson Baseball Responds After South Carolina's 'Out of Control' Celebration

Clemson coach calls out rival's antics after series-opening win

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Clemson baseball took issue with how rival South Carolina celebrated after winning the series opener 7-0 on February 27. Gamecocks pitcher Alex Valentin made a taunting face towards Clemson's dugout after recording the final strikeout. This led Clemson coach Erik Bakich to criticize South Carolina's excessive celebration, saying they don't celebrate "out of control like we just won the World Series after one win."

Why it matters

The heated rivalry between Clemson and South Carolina baseball teams often leads to intense emotions and competitive spirit on the field. Clemson's response highlights how teams can take perceived disrespect or unsportsmanlike conduct personally, adding extra motivation for the next matchup.

The details

In the series opener on February 27, South Carolina pitcher Alex Valentin recorded the final strikeout in a 7-0 win over Clemson. After the out, Valentin looked towards Clemson's dugout and made a taunting face, which Clemson took offense to. This led Clemson coach Erik Bakich to criticize South Carolina's celebration, saying they don't celebrate "out of control like we just won the World Series after one win."

  • On February 27, South Carolina defeated Clemson 7-0 in the series opener.
  • On February 28, Clemson evened the series against South Carolina.

The players

Alex Valentin

A pitcher for the South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team.

Erik Bakich

The head coach of the Clemson Tigers baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“We got another big one tomorrow, which is why we don't celebrate out of control like we just won the World Series after one win.”

— Erik Bakich, Clemson Tigers Head Coach (Independent Mail)

What’s next

Clemson and South Carolina will face off again on March 1 in the rubber match of their three-game series.

The takeaway

The heated rivalry between Clemson and South Carolina baseball teams often leads to intense emotions and competitive spirit on the field. Clemson's response to South Carolina's perceived unsportsmanlike celebration highlights how teams can take offense to perceived disrespect, adding extra motivation for the next matchup.