FOUNDERS PARK: Much like Clemson did a couple of hours earlier, South Carolina dusted off its tune-up opponent prior to meeting the Tigers this weekend with a 14-4 win over Gardner-Webb in a game shortened to six and a half innings due to the ten-run rule.
The Gamecocks fell behind 2-0 after a half inning then scored the next five runs. The Bulldogs scored a pair in the top of the fourth, but the Gamecocks answered with a five spot for a 10-4 lead. They built their ten-run lead with four runs in the sixth, and the bullpen protected that lead in the top of the seventh to make it an early night.
A third of the Gamecocks 15 hits were home runs, two of them solo shots by Jase Woita, who had three hits on the night. Nathan Hall had a three-run shot, and KJ Scobey and Max Kaufer also had solo blasts.
Jarvis Evans (1-0), the second of seven USC pitchers, earned the victory. Gamecock pitchers allowed three earned runs on six hits. They struck out six and walked two.
USC is now 9-0 and will play Clemson three games this weekend starting Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Game two will be Saturday at Fluor Field in Greenville, and game three will be at Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park in Columbia.