Tigers get power from unlikely source in baseball series opener against USC

CLEMSON — Chris Epps is a typical lead-off hitter. The junior finds ways to get on base and uses his speed to make something happen.

Friday against South Carolina in the first of a three-game series, he only had to trot around the bases in his first at bat in the Tigers’ 4-3 win at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Coming into the contest, Epps had just five career home runs, and had the worst slugging percentage this season among the regular starters at .190. But leading off the bottom of the first, the left-hitting Epps put USC starter Blake Cooper’s second pitch into the left-field stands to put Clemson up 1-0.

“Coach put me up there, likes for me to get the party started as he says, and I just saw one fastball for a ball and I was sitting next pitch on a fastball,” Epps said. “He left it up a little bit and I just put a good swing on it.”

Left fielder Robert Beary scaled the wall in an attempt to keep the ball in, but the Mother Nature took it out of his reach.

“It jumped off the bat pretty well and I knew the wind was blowing that way, so I guess I can credit the wind on that one,” Epps said. “But I got a pretty good swing on it.”

ENDERS MAKES EARLY CASE FOR SERIES AWARD

USC catcher Kyle Enders put his name on the ballot early for the Tom Price Award, which is given to the most outstanding Gamecock in the rivalry series, in an unfamiliar spot.

Hitting clean-up for the first time this season, Enders went 3-for-4 with two doubles, including one that plated two runs to tie the game in the third inning.

“I just wanted to do whatever I could to help the team,” he said. “I don’t change my approach fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth. I just go up there with pretty much the same mentality.”

MERRIFIELD CONTINUES HITTING STREAK

USC junior outfielder Whit Merrifield came one step closer to a school record. With an infield single in the top of the third inning, Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 22 games, dating back to May 2, 2009, against Vanderbilt.

He’s three games shy of the Gamecock record held by Greg Keatly.

HARD-THROWING DYSON UP NEXT

Today’s second game of the series will feature South Carolina right-handed junior Sam Dyson, whose fastball regularly hits the mid-90s. And Tiger coach Jack Leggett knows exactly what his hitters will see.

“He’s got a good, firm fastball,” Leggett said. “He had a real good game against us last year. We’re going to have to have good, short swings and be real quick with it.”

Dyson earned a victory at Clemson in 2009 after going 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five. He underwent offseason surgery but is rounding into shape at the right time, giving USC coach Ray Tanner confidence he can help the Gamecocks even the series today at 2 p.m. at Fluor Field in Greenville.

“He’s been pretty good for us,” Tanner said. “(The Tigers) are playing well. He’ll need to have a great performance to slow them down.”

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