GREENVILLE, S.C. — Ethan Darden is no stranger to pitching on the big stage.

The junior left-hander has pitched in regionals and super regionals. Darden has even started a game at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

However, taking the mound against rival South Carolina just might be the biggest stage of them all. Darden could conquered that on Saturday, as the lefty went a career-high seven scoreless innings while also tying a career-high with six strikeouts in the 13th-ranked Tigers’ 5-1 win that clinched the annual rivalry series for Clemson.

“We all know what this game means,” Darden said. “We know what this rivalry means.”

“That’s a good program over there. This is what college baseball is about. It is the best rivalry ever.”

Early on, it looked like Darden’s day might be over as quick as it started. After surrendering a leadoff double, Darden walked the next two hitters, loading the bases for the Gamecocks with nobody out.

“Started off a little rough, I’d say,” Darden said. “The crowd is crazy out here, you can tell it’s intense. Not a lot of college teams get to experience it. My emotions and nerves were fired up. I just had to relax and plug it in.”

Pitching coach Jimmy Belanger then made a mound visit, and his message was simple.

“Keeping an objective,” Darden said. “It’s bases loaded and nobody out and that is all it is. You can’t bring emotions into the game and we hammer on that each and every day.”

After that, Darden hit another level. The left-handed hurler retired the next three hitters, stranding all three runners. He then sat the Gamecocks down in order in the second, third and fourth innings. It wasn’t until the fifth that South Carolina recorded its second hit of the game, a one-out single by Henry Kaczmar. Darden immediately got KJ Scobey to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

In his final inning, Darden was at his best. After back-to-back fielding errors put runners on first and second with just one out and Clemson up just 2-0, Darden got his second double-play ball of the afternoon. South Carolina was hitless with runners on base and runners in scoring position.

After the early trouble in the first, Darden settled in, set the tone and attacked the zone. After those two first inning walks, the lefty did not surrender another free pass. He was flat-out on and the Gamecocks had no answer.

“I’m not worried about my stuff,” Darden said. “I am more worried about my mental game. The rest takes care of itself.”