Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney is known for his leadership on the gridiron, but his sports instincts were on full display in the Tigers’ baseball dugout recently.
Swinney made a surprise appearance during Clemson’s heated series against South Carolina and didn’t just watch the action—he called it. During the game, Swinney accurately predicted a strikeout before it happened, shocking his fellow commenters.
Dabo Swinney Accurately Predicts Strikeouts in the Dugout
The Clemson-South Carolina baseball rivalry is always intense, and this year’s series was no different. Clemson dominated with a three-game sweep, snapping the Gamecocks’ nine-game winning streak.
However, amid the high-stakes competition, Swinney stole the spotlight for a moment with his keen eye for the game.
During the match, Swinney confidently predicted that Clemson pitcher Aidan Knaak would strike out Nathan Hall. As the crowd watched, Knaak delivered, sending Hall back to the dugout empty-handed. Watch below:
Dabo Swinney predicted the strikeout 🔥 @ClemsonBaseball pic.twitter.com/FWzCZ5ITVK
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 1, 2025
Clemson carried that fire throughout the series, securing a 5-3 victory in the first game and maintaining control the rest of the way. The Tigers jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the first two innings, setting the tone for a dominant weekend.
Over the three-game stretch, Clemson’s offense capitalized on South Carolina’s struggles at the plate, holding the Gamecocks to just six runs on 15 hits. Meanwhile, Clemson’s pitchers were in top form, racking up 37 strikeouts across the series and keeping the Gamecocks’ bats quiet.
On the flip side, South Carolina’s pitching staff showed resilience despite the losses. The Gamecocks’ starters allowed seven runs in 15.1 innings, striking out 23 Clemson batters. Their bullpen remained solid as well, giving up just four runs over 10.2 innings with 20 additional strikeouts.
Ultimatley, their offense struggled to find footing against Clemson’s strong pitching, ultimately costing them the series.
With SEC play on the horizon, South Carolina now looks to regroup before facing Oklahoma on March 14. Before that, they’ll face Davidson and The Citadel in midweek matchups, hoping to rebuild confidence at the plate.
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Meanwhile, Clemson’s momentum continues to build as they improve to 10-1 on the season. And if Swinney ever decides to step into the baseball world full-time, he’s already shown he’s got an eye for the game. One thing is for sure—Dabo knows ball.
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