This season will bring a new look to the South Carolina and Clemson rivalry on the diamond. After two seasons of playing the neutral site game in Greenville, the series will open up in Charleston at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

The series will begin in Charleston on March 2 with game two in Columbia the next day. Sunday’s series finale will be in Clemson.

According to two separate sources, there is currently a verbal agreement in place between the two sides but the contract finalizing the deal is still to be signed. The signatures are considered a formality and the neutral site game is headed to the coast. The deal is expected to be another two-year contract, much like the one with Greenville and the “Reedy River Rivalry” over the last two seasons.

The Gamecocks typically play The Citadel each season at “The Joe,” a $19.5 million dollar facility that seats approximately 6,000 people. Riley Park is the Single A home of the Charleston Riverdogs, a New York Yankees affiliate.

South Carolina was 2-0 at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive,, a Single A Red Sox affiliate. The Gamecocks won the first neutral site showdown 7-5 in 2010 and then a 5-4 chippy affair in March of this past season.

The Gamecocks hold a 5-3 edge over the Tigers over the last two seasons, including a 4-0 neutral site record. USC is 2-0 in Greenville and went 2-0 against Clemson in the College World Series in 2010.

Championship banquet

South Carolina will hold its national championship banquet on Thursday, November 10 at the Convention Center. The team will be honored as well at the football game two days later against Florida. The ceremony will not be as elaborate as last season.

Head coach Ray Tanner does not want to take away from the magnitude of the football game being played that night. Plans for the game have not been finalized but the team will likely appear as a group either during a timeout or at halftime to be recognized and salute the crowd.

Last season, each player and coach was announced individually at halftime and presented their national championship ring against Arkansas.

Tickets will be available first to Dugout Club members but will also be sold to the public. For information on joining the Dugout Club, please contact Sharon Hundley via email - hundley@mindspring.com.