South Carolina was threatening to sweep a doubleheader from second-ranked Arkansas until the Razorbacks broke through with a 5-run seventh to take the series finale at Founders Park 9-6, Saturday.
Having already won the early game 6-3, Saturday, USC trailed by just a run after five innings. But Arkansas scratched out a run in the sixth before seven Hogs’ batters reached in the seventh against Tyler Peltzer and Michael Polk, pelting the Gamecocks’ relievers for five earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks. Righthander Parker Marlatt came to the rescue, stranding runners on first and second, but the damage had been done.
Starter Dylan Askew (2-3, 4.33) was the hard-luck loser as three of the four runs he surrendered were unearned.
Despite the 9-2 deficit, USC didn’t back down, scoring three runs in the eighth and another in the ninth before Parker Noland (2-for-5) struck out looking for the game’s final out.
DH Cole Messina drove in a pair of runs and shortstop Lee Ellis doubled twice. Centerfielder Austin Brinling, batting leadoff, reached base five times between the two games.
The slate isn’t getting any easier as South Carolina (27-13, 9-9) will tangle with third-ranked Kentucky next weekend. The third-ranked Wildcats (32-6, 15-2) have already swept three ranked opponents this season. USC will have five full days off before playing host to Kentucky at 7 p.m., Friday.
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