USC reliever Graham Lawson issued a bases loaded walk with two outs in the top of the 10th inning, and that run proved to be the difference in the Wildcats’ 4-3 win Sunday afternoon at Founders Park. Northwestern leaves Columbia with a 2-1 series win, both victories coming in extra innings. The Gamecocks fall to 5-2 with games coming up this week against North Florida and Clemson.
Lawson actually struck out the side in the 10th, but those outs were mixed in among a leadoff single and three walks. The Gamecocks threatened in the bottom of the 10th getting runners to first and second with two outs. But Dallas Beaver popped up to shortstop to end the game.
Brannon Jordan started for the Gamecocks and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and struck out 9 over 6 innings. He left with a 3-2 lead. Cam Tringali and Graham Lloyd worked the next three. Lloyd yield the tying run in the 7th on a sacrifice fly that carried Andrew Eyster into the rightfield wall. He recovered and fired the ball to the shortstop who doubled-off the runner at first for the final out, but not before the runner from third scored.
The Gamecocks had a chance to come right back and take the lead, but with two outs Anthony Amicangelo was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a single to left by Andrew Eyster.
Noah Campbell had a homer and 3 RBIs for the Gamecocks and Eyster had 2 of USC’s 7 hits.
Mark Kingston postgame press conference
