South Carolina carried a 3-1 lead over Alabama to the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday night in Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie, and the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth for a 4-3 win over the Gamecocks in the opener of their three-game series.
The Gamecocks jumped on top 2-0 in the top of the first on an RBI groundout by Kennedy Jones and an RBI double by Talmadge LeCroy. USC starter Eli Jones allowed one hit over the first four innings but got into trouble in the fifth as the Tide got runners to second and third with two outs. A wild pitch then plated Alabama’s first run.
Gavin Casas homered in the seventh to give USC a 3-1 lead. After yielding a lead-off, pinch hit double, Jones was lifted for Chris Veach. A fly out to right advanced the runner, and a grounder to short scored the run to make it 3-2. Veach walked the next hitter and was replaced by Garrett Gainey. Gainey’s first pitch was drilled to right center by TJ McCants tying the game at 3-3.
The Gamecocks threatened in the eighth after Cole Messina led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. Jones struck out and Ethan Petry was intentionally walked. After LeCroy popped out attempting to bunt, Petry stole second and Blake Jackson walked to load the bases. But on a 2-2 pitch, Dylan Brewer grounded out to the first baseman to end the threat.
The Crimson Tide put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the 8th off Gainey. He got the second out on a strikeout but uncorked a wild pitch to the next batter and the go ahead run scored from third.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Parker Noland doubled, but Messina struck out swinging to end the game.
Jones gave USC another strong start scattering six hits and allowing two runs over six innings. He struck out five and walked one. Gainey took the loss in relief to fall to 0-2.
Casas led the USC offense with three hits including the home run. Noland had a pair of doubles.
The Gamecocks are 20-6 and 4-3 in the SEC and will send out Dylan Eskew to start Friday night’s game with a first pitch set for 7:00 PM Eastern.
This is a terrible defensive team, as long as Kingston is coach this team defensively and offensively will be mediocre at best, Kingston’s teams lack alot of what Tanner’s teams had