USC scored 11 unanswered runs to overcome a 4-2 deficit in defeating Vanderbilt 14-6 Friday night in Nashville in the opener of the three game series between the two top five ranked teams. The win moves the Gamecocks to within a half/game of the Commodores in the SEC East. The Gamecocks are 10-2 in the SEC, 30-4 overall. The Commodores are 11-2 and 27-7.
Cole Messina gave USC a quick 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the top of the first. The Commodores then took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second with a pair of two-out, two-run doubles off Will Sanders.
The Gamecocks retook the lead by displaying their power once again with solo homers in three consecutive innings… Messina in the 4th, Michael Braswell in the 5th and Ethan Petry in the 6th.
The Gamecocks added four more runs in the sixth for a 9-4 lead, with a two run triple by Braswell the big blow. The onslaught continued in the 7th with four more runs, including a two-run homer by Carson Hornung. The five home runs give the Gamecocks a nation’s best 83 homers on the season.
Sanders had just one bad inning out of the five he worked to earn the victory. He’s now 3-1. Eli Jones and Eli Jerzembeck followed him to the mound with Jones allowing the other two runs by the Commodores.
The series continues Saturday with Jack Mahoney going to the mound for USC.
