Can we talk? March 1

In this space last week I offered some thoughts about Clemson and South Carolina as they prepared for their annual three-game series.

Most of my observations proved to be on target. Let's take a look:

Clemson
* I saw the Tigers' pitching staff as a strength, and that held up. From a 15-strikeout, one-hit performance -- 11 by Sam Weatherly in seven no-hit innings -- in Friday's opener to seven shutout innings to complete Sunday's series finale, pitching was a strength, perhaps the difference in the series. On Sunday, South Carolina got four hits in the first three innings and two over the final six.  Mat Clark was superb after taking over from starter Spencer Strider. The Tigers struck out 31  Gamecocks over the weekend.
* I mentioned the offense and defense needed work.  While not exactly the '27 Yankees, the Tiger got enough production at the plate for a 2-1 series win. They hit four home runs in the series after hitting just two over their first four games. On defense, the Tigers played errorless ball until Sunday. There were three errors on Sunday -- two of them on back-to-back-batters -- but none came back to bite them.

South Carolina
*  I talked about the good starting pitching through eight games, and it was good in two of the three weekend games. The exception was Friday, and even that started off well. Carmen Mlodzinski shut Clemson out for the first three innings, then allowed two-run homers in three consecutive innings while the Tigers' Weatherly was unhittable.
* Two of the issues I raised came back to bite the Gamecocks. 1. They had opportunities to take control of both Games 2 and 3 early, but were unable to get the hit to put them over the hump. It wasn't a fatal mistake on Saturday, but it did contribute to Sunday's late failure. With his first choices to close out Saturday's game struggling, USC coach Mark Kingston was prompted to bring in Brett Kerry to get the final two outs. Had the Gamecocks been able to keep Kerry in reserve until Sunday, they might have been able to bring him in earlier in the fateful seventh inning.

What does it all mean?
* Clemson: Just as a series win gives the Tigers state bragging rights, the overall performance could provide a confidence boost for ACC play, which begins Friday at home against Boston College.

* South Carolina: The same issues the Gamecocks were dealing with entering the Clemson series remain. The control woes seem to have permeated the bullpen. Kingston has tinkered with the lineup to try to right the offensive issues. Brennan Milone was expected to be an offensive anchor, but he's missed the last nine games with an injury. To compound matters, USC committed six errors and had other defensive lapses. With issues on offense, defense and in the bullpen, can they all be fixed in time for South Carolina to contend for an NCAA bid?

Elsewhere:
* Claflin had a forgettable Peach Belt Conference road series at UNC Pembroke, getting outscored 66-2 in three losses. Panthers pitchers were touched for 10 runs in an inning twice and also surrendered a nine-run inning and an eight-run inning. Unfortunately for the staff ERA, 63 of the 66 runs were earned.
* It was shaping up as a long ride home from Americus, Ga., for USC Aiken. The Pacers, on a five-game Peach Belt Conference losing streak, were down the Georgia Southwestern 3-0 entering the ninth inning. But Aiken exploded for four runs on three hits -- Jeff Cyr's double drove in the winning -- and held on for a 4-3 victory.
* Spartanburg Methodist had a busy week, playing eight games at Mooneyham Field. But it was a productive week for coach Tim Wallace's squad. The Pioneers went 6-2 and moved to 8-7 for the season.
* The Citadel's 9-1 start, the best for the program since a 26-1 beginning in 1990, has pulled  the Bulldogs within three wins of their 2019 victory total of 12. Success has come from a combination of hitting (.319 team batting average, 26 stolen bases) and hitting (3.30 staff ERA, 115 strikeouts in 90 innings).
* North Greenville  lost its first outing after moving to the top of the Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II rankings, but coach Landon Powell's squad rebounded well, sweeping Emmanuel to remain in a first-place tie with Mount Olive in the Conference Carolinas standings.
* Josh Bobrowski of Francis Marion continued his star-crossed season. He struck out 17 in eight innings against Young Harris Friday night, but left with a 2-1 deficit. The Patriots rallied for a 3-2 win, but Bobrowski got a no-decision. He has a 1.3 record, a 1.74 ERA and 53 strikeouts in inings.
* Charleston Southern wrapped up a four-game sweep of Delaware State on Sunday, stealing six bases for the second time this season.  Kyle Sandstrom also tied the school individual single-game record with four thefts.
* Winthrop, which opened the season with eight straight wins, lost the first two games of the Kent State series and seemed destined for being swept when the flashes scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 4-2 lead. But the Eagles responded with five hits to open the ninth for a 5-4 win. Dillon Morton's two-run single capped the comeback.
* Columbia International got its first-ever Appalachian Athletic Conference win Saturday when it took the series finale at Reinhardt.

Teams trending up
Charleston Southern, Clemson, Erskine, Florence-Darlington Tech, Newberry, North Greenville, Spartanburg Methodist, The Citadel, USC Lancaster, Wofford.

Teams trending down
Anderson, Claflin, Furman, Lander, Presbyterian, Southern Wesleyan, South Carolina, USC Salkehatchie, USC Upstate.

Whadya think?