Brody Koerner’s Gem Helps Clemson Win Series Against Gamecocks

Photo Clemson Athletics

Brody Koerner pitched 6 1/3 innings in all of 2014, allowing 11 earned runs (15.63 ERA) with batters hitting .370 off of him.

You can say that 2015 is going a little better for him.

In his third outing of the season, against archrival South Carolina the junior right hander threw a complete game shutout, striking out seven batters while only allowing four hits.

Koerner was in complete control from the get-go, even though he allowed a leadoff single to Gene Cone. Using his low-90s fastball and power curve, the Concord, North Carolina native kept the Gamecocks lineup off balance all game with only Kyle Martin really connecting on ball – flying out to right-center in the ninth.

With his curveball at its best, he was able to rely on the pitch for the majority of the night – sometimes using that first and throwing the fastball off of it.

The offense didn’t shy away from the action, and gave Koerner plenty of support, scoring seven runs while collecting 11 hits.

Led 2-3-4 hitters of the lineup as they all registered multi-hit games led by Reed Rohlman’s three hit performance. Sophomore catcher Chris Okey drove in two runs, one on a sacrifice fly in the third inning and the other on a groundout in the seventh.

Four different Tigers drove in runs, ranging from the top of the lineup (Rohlman, batted second) down to the nine-hole hitter (Eli White).

After being named ACC player of the week, Weston Wilson had a rough start to the week – going 0-for-5 and being the only Tiger not to register a hit.

It all came back to Koerner and his outing, as he only allowed two runners to reach second base and showed great pitchability to escape the situation unscathed. The seventh inning was the greatest example of it.

A leadoff single by Connor Bright gave the Gamecocks their best opportunity late in the game, but Koerner forced Alex Destino and Hunter Taylor to weakly ground out before freezing Jordan Gore to end the inning.

He found himself missing bats as the game went on as Koerner struck out four batters in the final three frames, including striking Destino out for the third time to end the game.

The win clinched the series the for Tigers, a series that you can argue would be the one they would want to win out of any on the entire schedule. It also showed just how dangerous that the Tigers can be as they get ready to head into ACC play this weekend against N.C. State.

Clemson was predicted to finish third in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State and Louisville but with performances like this they can certainly make a run at the top of the division.