FOUNDERS PARK: 15th ranked Georgia compressed ten runs into the third and fourth innings Friday night, and that was more than enough to take an 11-5 win over #13 South Carolina and clinch the crucial SEC series for both teams. The Bulldogs, who have won seven straight, will go for the sweep Saturday afternoon.
The Gamecocks took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a RBI double by Cole Messina. Eli Jones made it through the first two innings without allowing a Georgia run, but things go away from him in the third inning.
After retiring the first two batters, Jones gave up a single, hit a batter, then yielded a three run homer to Slate Alford. A single, a RBI double and a RBI single followed to make it 5-0 Georgia.
Jones started the fourth, but after giving up singles to the first two batters, he was replaced by Connor McCreery. With runners on the corners, McCreery got a ground ball to third, but it was misplayed for an error by Gavin Casas and a run scored. A fielder’s choice moved a runner to third and he scored on a wild pitch. McCreery walked the next batter then gave up a three run homer to Tre Phillips his third home run of the series. Jake McCoy replaced McCreery and got the final two outs. The Bulldogs led 10-1 at that point.
Dalton Reeves got the Gamecocks back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth with the first of his two home runs. He hit another solo shot in the sixth, and two batters later, pinch-hitter Will Tippett launched a two-run shot. Tippett made his first appearance since April 19th because of a knee injury.
The Gamecocks trailed 10-5 at that point as McCoy kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth innings. Tyler Pitzer replaced him in the top of he seventh and held the Dogs scoreless until being replaced by Matthew Becker with one out and one on in the top of the ninth. Becker then hit a batter uncorked a pair of wild pitches to produce one final run for Georgia.
USC pitchers allowed 15 hits, walked five, hit three batters and had four wild pitches. Jones took the loss and falls to 3-3 on the season. He allowed seven runs on ten hits and his ERA now stands at 6.13. The Gamecocks did not allow a homer by Charlie Condon snapping his eight game homer streak.
The Gamecocks are 33-17 overall and 13-13 in the SEC and sit in seventh place in the overall league standings.