With temperatures dipping into the 30s at Founders Park, conditions weren’t ideal for baseball, but it didn’t seem to bother USC leadoff hitter Nathan Hall. Hall racked up another four hits, upping his average to .500, and stole a pair of bases to lead South Carolina to a 7-2 victory over Queens, Wednesday.
Gamecocks pitching held the Royals lineup scoreless over the first seven innings before surrendering a two-run single in the eighth. Queens’ rally cut USC’s advantage to one, but Hall struck again in the home half of the eighth to help the Gamecocks put the game out of reach.
In the first inning, Hall doubled on the second pitch he saw and came around to score on Ethan Petry’s single. Hall bookended his day with an RBI single, his fourth hit of the day, helping to fuel USC’s four-run eighth. Through five games, the Gamecocks’ center fielder has reached base in 11 of his 20 plate appearances and is tied with Petry for the team’s RBI lead with six.
Lefthander Jackson Soucie got the start and split the first six innings with fellow southpaw Ryder Garino (W, 1-0). Neither gave up a run and surrendered just one hit, apiece. Queens scratched out their runs against Austin Crowther, but had no further luck against Parker Marlatt or Roman Kimball.
South Carolina (5-0) will look to make it six in a row when UW-Milwaukee lands in Columbia to start a three-game set, Friday. Game 1 from Founders Park is scheduled for 4 p.m.