The calendar said April 9th, but the feeling inside Truist Field in Charlotte Tuesday night was more like June, except for the temperature. 25th ranked South Carolina and 13th ranked North Carolina locked horns in a dandy college baseball game won by the Gamecocks 2-1, their third straight win over the Tar Heels and their 40th in the all-time series.
Pitching and defense were the key elements to the USC win. Four pitchers limited the Tar Heels to six hits while striking out 12 and walking four. Dylan Eskew and Roman Kimball combined for the first six shutout innings. Parker Marlatt allowed the Tar Heels’ only run in the seventh, and Connor McCreery got the final seven outs striking out five.
The Gamecocks aksi turned three double plays while second baseman Parker Noland and shortstop Will Tippett each made a highlight play in the field.
The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead in the third loading the bases with one out. Gavin Casas got the run home with a grounder to first base. The Tar Heels tied the game in the seventh with a double into the right field cornerr that scored a runner from second. McCreery then entered and got a strikeout to end the inning.
USC answered right back in the top of the eighth inning. Talmadge LeCroy walked and was sacrificed to second by Dalton Reeves. Dylan Brewer then delivered the game wining hit, a double into center field that scored LeCroy. Brewer was thrown ouit at third trying to stretch to a triple.
The Tar Heels threatened in the bottom of the eighth with a runner at second and two outs, but McCreery got a strikeout to save the lead. In the ninth, he put down the side in order with a ground out and two strikeouts. McCreery earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season.
The Gamecocks did have ten hits on the night, but they left ten on base, all in the first seven innings. They were 1-10 with runners in scoring position. Brewer had three hits while Petry and Noland had two each.
The Gamecocks are now 23-10 and will play at Florida this weekend.
Box Score
Mark Kingston postgame
Dylan Brewer postgame
Connor McCreery postgame