South Carolina drops weekend finale in third-straight Palmetto Series loss to Clemson

Gamecocks fall 7-2 to No. 15 Tigers, marking third consecutive series defeat in rivalry

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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South Carolina's baseball team lost the rubber match of its weekend series against Clemson, falling 7-2 to the No. 15 Tigers on Sunday. The defeat marked the Gamecocks' third straight series loss in the Palmetto Series rivalry, dating back to 2024. South Carolina has now gone 1-7 in its last eight meetings with Clemson.

Why it matters

The Palmetto Series loss is another setback for South Carolina, which is looking to bounce back from a less-than-ideal start to the 2026 season. The Gamecocks had hoped a series win over their in-state rival could provide a boost heading into SEC play, but instead they now face an uphill battle to turn their season around.

The details

South Carolina took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run single by Dawson Harman, but Clemson quickly responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead. The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the third and one in the fifth to pull away. Defensive miscues have been an issue for the Gamecocks, who have committed at least one error in 10 of their first 12 games.

  • The series finale took place on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
  • South Carolina and Clemson have now met three straight times in the Palmetto Series, with the Tigers winning the last three matchups dating back to 2024.

The players

Paul Mainieri

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team, who is 1-5 in his first two years of the Palmetto Series rivalry.

Dawson Harman

The South Carolina player who hit a two-run single in the second inning to give the Gamecocks an early lead.

Riley Goodman

The South Carolina pitcher who struggled with command, lasting just two innings and surrendering three runs on two hits with three walks.

Ty Dalley

The Clemson player who drove in a run with a groundout in the second inning and later hit a solo home run in the fifth.

Tyler Lichtenberger

The Clemson player who hit a two-run single in the third inning to give the Tigers the lead for good.

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What’s next

South Carolina will begin a five-game homestand this week, starting with a matchup against USC Upstate on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

South Carolina's third straight Palmetto Series loss to Clemson is another setback in what has been a disappointing start to the 2026 season for the Gamecocks. The team's struggles with defensive miscues and inconsistent pitching have put them in a hole heading into SEC play, and they will need to turn things around quickly to have any hope of competing in the conference.