For the first time this season, USC came up on the short end of an SEC series losing two of three at Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks won the opener Friday night, but the Commodores took the middle game, then capped the weekend with a 6-4 win on Sunday afternoon. The Gamecocks were limited to 6 hits and committed 2 errors in losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Ethan Petry homered in the top of the 1st, his 18th of the season setting a USC freshman season record, to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead with Matthew Becker going to the mound.
The Commodores got to Becker in the bottom of the second scoring a pair of two out runs for a 2-1 lead. USC tied the game in the 6th. Dylan Brewer led off with a bunt single to third, and Braylen Wimmer followed with a double for 2nd and 3rd with no one out. Petry followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. Cole Messina was intentionally walked, and Tim Corbin pulled starter Devin Futrell for Ryan Ginther. Ginther got out of the inning with a double play ball off the bat of Gavin Casas.
The Dores answered right back in their half of the 6th, scoring three times with two outs. Eli Jones, who had replaced Becker in the 5th, got the first two batters of the inning out, then loaded the bases with a walk, a single and a hit batter. Cade Austin entered for Jones and walked his first batter to give Vandy a 3-2 lead. It appeared that would be all for Vanderbilt, but third baseman Talmadge LeCroy booted a ground ball allowing two unearned runs to score.
USC made it a 5-3 game in the 8th with Petry delivering a two-out, run scoring double scoring Brewer, who had been hit by a pitch. Petry eventually got to third on a passed ball but was stranded when Messina popped out.
Enrique Bradfield provided insurance for Vandy with a solo homer in the 8th off Wesley Sweatt. LeCroy got that run back in the 9th with a solo homer with one out, but Carson Hornung struck out and Michael Braswell flied out to right to end the game.
Jones took the loss for the Gamecocks who are 30-6 overall and 10-4 in the SEC. Vanderbilt is 29-7 and 13-2 in league play. USC opens a seven game homestand Tuesday night beginning with Charleston Southern. Florida and Auburn will come to Founders Park the next two weekends.
