Tigers, Gamecocks set for a three-game series

CLEMSON -- Ray Tanner and Jack Leggett think they finally have a series format befitting their rivalry.

After two decades of breaking up the South Carolina-Clemson series during the season, always including at least one midweek game, the Gamecocks and Tigers unveil a new format today.

USC and Clemson begin at three-game series at 6:30 p.m. today at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The teams return to play at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fluor Field in Greenville and wrap up the series in Columbia at 2 p.m. Sunday.

It's the first time since 1991 the No. 13 Tigers (7-0) and No. 15 Gamecocks (4-2) meet in a three-game weekend series.

Not only will bragging rights be decided over one weekend, but Tanner said it eliminates the difficult position of making midweek pitching decisions when facing a top-25 team that doubles as the program's primary rival.

Now USC's best will face Clemson's best.

"I think that's what this series deserves," Tanner said.

On the mound, USC opens with Blake Cooper (2-0, 3.00 ERA) against Casey Harman (2-0, 0.84) today. Sam Dyson (1-0, 2.35, 11 K/4 BB in 7 2/3 IP) faces Will Lamb (1-0, 1.42) on Saturday, and freshman lefty Tyler Webb, who has yet to allow a run in 8 2/3 innings, matches up against Scott Weisman (1-0, 1.89 ERA, 10 K/1 BB in 9 1/3 IP) on Sunday.

Weisman is the Tigers' No. 2 starter, but Leggett moves him down a slot this weekend since the sophomore had success last season in Columbia.

Leggett and Tanner created the new format this offseason.

While pitching was a major impetus for change, so were the taxing travel situations under the old formats and maximizing exposure and interest.

Leggett also hopes a new format changes Clemson's fortunes. USC has won nine of the last 12 meetings in the series.

"(The old formats) were kind of hectic -- both ACC and SEC schedules are very difficult once you get started," Leggett said. "Playing a Wednesday night game, you could be traveling to Arkansas or Maryland the next day.

"I think (the new format) gets everyone into the flow early in the season."

On the field, the Tigers are already in a flow, having won all seven games.

Clemson slugger Kyle Parker looks more relaxed not competing for the starting quarterback job this spring. He leads the Tigers in average (.464), home runs (4), slugging (.893) and on-base percentage (.531).

South Carolina dropped two of three games against No. 14 East Carolina last weekend, though the Gamecocks did get star Nick Ebert back from academic suspension.

Tonight's game will be Clemson's first against a ranked opponent.

"Regardless of when you play (the rivalry), it doesn't matter," Leggett said. "It'll be a big game."

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.om/blogs/tiger_tracks.