USC clubbed four more home runs while getting a strong performance on the mound from starter Noah Hall and two relievers in an 8-1 win over Missouri Saturday afternoon at Founders Park in the first game of a doubleheader. The win gives the Gamecocks their second straight SEC series victory and improves their league mark to 5-0. They are 22-2 overall.
Ethan Petry started the long-ball barrage with a two run homer in the bottom of the first, his 11th of the season. The Tigers scored their lone run in the top of the fourth, but that was offset in the bottom of the inning by a solo homer by Evan Stone, his first of the season.
Gavin Casas made it 4-1 with a solo homer in the fifth, his 13th longball of the season. Talmadge LeCroy singled home a run in the seventh. Stone homered again in the eighth, this one a two-run shot, and Casas closed out the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth.
Hall was outstanding as he improved his record to 5-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.18. He scattered five hits over seven innings allowing one earned run. He struck out ten and walked one. Hall threw 98 pitches, 65 for strikes. Chris Veach and Cade Austin worked the last two innings allowing a hit each. Gamecock pitchers struck out 15 Mizzou hitters.
Jack Mahoney will start game three Saturday night as the Gamecocks go for the sweep of the Tigers.
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