USC was swept in a SEC series for the first time this seasons dropping both ends of a day-night doubleheader at Ole Miss Saturday. The Gamecocks lost the opener 7-3 and fell in the nightcap 6-4. The Gamecocks have lost their last two league series and are now 26-15 overall and 11-10 in the SEC. They are fourth in the East, 3.5 games back of front-running Vanderbilt.
In game one, USC took a 1-0 in the second on a Colin Burgess homer. But Ole Miss tied the game in the bottom of the inning off Brannon Jordan on a Justin Bench homer, then took the lead for good on a bases loaded walk. The Rebels got a two run homer in the fifth, and then scored three in the sixth, two on a home run, to build a 7-1 lead.
Jordan (4-4) pitched five innings and allowed four runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked four. Andrew Peters allowed the final three runs over the last three innings.
In game two, the Gamecocks took a 3-0 lead in the second as Wes Clarke hit a three-run homer. his 16th of the season and first since April 3rd. Gamecock starter Will Sanders allowed a pair of runs in the second and was replaced by Brett Kerry to start the third. Kerry yielded a two-run homer for a 4-3 Rebel lead.
Brady Allen tied the game with a RBI single in the fifth, but Ole Miss answered right back with two in the bottom of the frame for a 6-4 lead.
Pitching dominated the rest of the way. The Gamecocks went down in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Andrew Eyster led off the ninth with a single, and with one out he advanced to second on a passed ball. But David Mendham flied out and Clarke fouled out to end the game.
Kerry took the loss to fall to 3-1. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out nine. Julian Bosnic did not allow a hit over the final 2.2 innings and struck out three. Sanders, Kerry and Bosnic combined to strike out 14 Rebels and walk two.
The Gamecocks managed seven hits in both games Saturday giving them 16 for the series. They struck out 31 times in the series and drew two walks.
Mark Kingston postgame comments
