Tigers even it up

Clate Schmidt and Pat Krall combined on a two-hit shutout Saturday as Clemson beat South Carolina, 5-0, at Fluor Field to even the best-of-three series at 1-1.

Game 3 is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Clemson's Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The game will be streamed on the Internet on ESPN3.

Clarke Schmidt, Clate's younger brother, had pitched eight shutout innings for South Carolina as the Gamecocks won the series opener, 8-1, Friday night.

Clemson (7-2) scored single runs in the first and second innings, then added two in the fifth,. With the way Schmidt was dealing, that was a huge lead.

The elder Schmidt took a no-hitter in the sixth inning in front of Fluor Field record crown of 7,216. He left with the bases loaded and one out, but Krall struck out the next two batters to preserve a 4-0 Clemson lead.

"I'm really proud of my team and the way they responded after as tough loss (Friday) night," Clemson coach Monte Lee said in a video posted on ClemsonTigers.com.

Schmidt battled cancer during the off season but has won his three starts this season.

"When we needed as big start from a veteran player, we got one today," Lee said. "He did an incredible job. And what about Pat Krall? He comes in with the bases loaded to face (Alex) Destino, who's an extremely hot hitter (and got a big strikeout). He struck Cullen to finish that inning. ... Then, Pat took it the rest of the way."

"He certainly pitched well on the big stage tonight," USC coach Chad Holbrook said of Schmidt in quotes posted on GamecocksOnline.com "I tip my cap to him. With all that he has been through, the way he performed was impressive."

USC starter Braden Webb (2-1) contributed to his demise with five walks. In addition,South Carolina's infield committed two errors. It was a reversal of fortune from Friday, when Clemson made three errors.

Webb and two relievers checked Clemson on five hits, but the total included a double, two triples and Chase Pinder's fourth home run of the season.

"We certainly didn't play a good baseball game today," Holbrook said. "I felt very fortunate in the fifth inning to be only behind 2-0, I thought we still had a chance to win. We just couldn't muster much offense against their pitchers. Their pitchers were better than our hitters."

Saturday night, Clemson announced freshman right-hander Alex Eubanks (1-1, 0.96) would start Sunday's game. USC (10-1) will go with Taylor Widener (0-0, 1.86).