Top-ranked Tennessee produced all of their runs via the long ball Saturday afternoon at Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park in slipping past South Carolina 7-5. The Vols cranked out a three run-homer and a pair of two-run shots to hand the Gamecocks their third straight SEC series loss.
The Vols broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a three-run homer by Reese Chapman. Jace Woita homered for USC in the bottom of the inning to make it a 3-1 game, and USC tied the game 3-3 with a sacrifice fly and a ground out to third in the bottom of the fifth.
The Gamecocks took their first lead in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded ground out to third by Jordan Carrion. They took that 4-3 lead to the top of the eighth. Brandon Stone allowed a single between a pair of strikeouts, then he was touched by Andrew Fischer for a two-run homer giving the Vols a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the first two Gamecocks reached to put runners on first and second. KJ Scobey followed with a ground ball to short. The play went to third and pinch runner Blake Jackson was thrown out leaving runners on the corners with one away. Beau Hollins delivered an RBI single through the rightside to tie the game at 5-5.
With runners at first and second and one out, Jordan Carrion singled into right but Hollins had to hold up at third base leaving the bases loaded with one out. The threat was snuffed out when Gavin Braland hit a sharp grounder to first that was turned into an inning ending double play.
The Vols took the lead for good in the top of the ninth on a one out, two-run homer by Cannon Peebles, a .192 hitter. In the bottom of the inning, Henry Kaczmar led off with a walk but Nathan Hall hit into a double play and Ethan Petry grounded to short to end the game.
Hollins led an 11-hit USC attack with four hits. Jarvis Evans started on the mound for USC and pitched the first six innings. Stone (1-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits.
The Gamecocks have lost six ina row. They are 17-11 overall and 1-7 in the SEC. The series will wrap up Sunday afternoon with a 12:00 PM start.