Brett Kerry tossed the first complete game shutout for USC since 2014, and Andrew Eyster had a grand slam and drove in five runs, to lead the Gamecocks past Kentucky 9-0 Saturday afternoon in Lexington. The Gamecocks clinched the series win with the victory and improved to 30-18 overall and 14-12 in the SEC. They will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon.
Kerry, who made his first start of the season, need just 94 pitches to match Will Crowe’s feat against Campbell in a 2014 regional. He allowed four hits, no walks and struck out ten. 67 of his 94 pitches went for strikes.
Eyster powered the offense with three of the Gamecocks’ seven hits. His grand slam in the sixth, his second of the season, gave USC a 6-0 lead. He added an RBI single in the eighth. Braylen Wimmer’s two run homer in the ninth accounted for the final runs.
Though the Gamecocks had just seven hits, they did draw seven walks and were hit by pitches five times.
Thomas Farr will go to the mound Sunday afternoon for the Gamecocks on what will be Senior Day for the Wildcats.
