South Carolina wrapped up its mid-week schedule in style Tuesday night with a 15-3 win at Winthrop that ended after seven innings due to the run-rule. The Gamecocks improved to 33-15 with their 12th straight win over the Eagles.
USC scored in every inning as the Gamecocks had plenty of baserunners with 14 hits, three walks and four hit batsmen. They jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first inning, added a run in the second on a Gavin Casas homer, and made it 6-1 in the third on a two run homer by Kennedy Jones.
Both teams scored a run in the fourth, and the Gamecocks followed with a three-run fifth inning as Talmadge LeCroy got a run home with a bunt and Austin Brinling drove in two with a double.
The Gamecocks added a run in the sixth on a Jones sac fly, then finished out their scoring in style in the seventh with a two-run homer by Brinling and solo shots by Ethan Petry and Cole Messina. For Petry, it was his 19th homer of the season. And the Gamecocks have hit 15 home runs in the first seven days of May.
Five USC pitchers combined on a five-hitter. They struck out eight, walk five and hit four. Tyler Dean (1-0) picked up the win by working 1.1 innings and setting down all four batters he faced.
The Gamecocks return home Thuesday night to open a crucial SEC series with Georgia. USC and the Bulldogs are tied for the sixth best record in the SEC with two league series remaining.
Box Score
Mark Kingston postgame
