FOUNDERS PARK: South Carolina is finally in the win column for the month of May. The Gamecocks rallied Tuesday night for a 6-5 win over Winthrop at Ray Tanner Field to break a six game losing streak. It’s their first win since defeating Charleston Southern on April 29th.
The Eagles held a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth in large part due to Josh Skowronski, who hit a pair of solo home runs along with an RBI double. Ethan Wilson also had a solo homer for the Eagles.
Winthrop starter Brayden Gilley shutout the Gamecocks over the first five innings allowing two hits. USC freshman third baseman KJ Scobey got the Gamecocks on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, his seventh of the season.
The Gamecocks started their eighth inning rally with Evan Stone hit by a pitch. After a Scobey strikeout, Evans went to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a double by pinch-hitter Kennedy Jones.
Walker Brodt replaced Shane Keup on the mound and was greeted by a single to right by Nathan Hall to put runners on the corners. Henry Kaczmar followed with an RBI single to make it 5-3. After Ethan Petry struck out for the second out, Quininton Hall relieved Keup.
Jace Woita hit a ground ball to first that was misplayed for an error to load the bases. On the next pitch, freshman first baseman Beau Hollins cleared the bases with a double into right center to give the Gamecocks a 6-5 lead with all three runs unearned.
Parker Marlatt came on in relief of Zach Russell (2-1) to pitch the ninth for the Gamecocks. He got a pair of line outs and then was able to strike out Skowronski swinging to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
The game also marked the return from injury of outfielder Ethan Petry.
The Gamecocks are 27-26 and will open their final regular season series Thursday night at home against top-ranked LSU. Winthrop is also 27-26.
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