Georgia 5 – Gamecocks 2 Game Summary
- South Carolina starter Josh Gunther made one critical mistake and the USC lineup was unable to come through in the clutch, stranding 13 runners in a 5-2 loss at Georgia, Friday.
- Ethan Lizama and Jake Randolph drove in the Gamecocks’ runs with RBI singles in the second and fifth innings, respectively.
- The Gamecocks last best chance to put pressure on the Bulldogs came in the top of the 8th when USC loaded the bases on a double from Luke Yuhasz and walks from Beau Hollins and Tyler Bak. Georgia was able to escape, however, with a groundout from Talmadge LeCroy.
- USC outhit Georgia 9-4 but left at least one runner stranded in every inning but the fifth.
- South Carolina pitching again struggled with control, issuing eight free passes against six strikeouts. Gamecocks starter Josh Gunther (2-2) got himself into trouble when he walked two of the first three batters in the bottom of the second. With Gunther pitching from the stretch, Georgia sandwiched a pair of singles around a strikeout to bring catcher Daniel Jackson to the dish. Jackson, a Wofford transfer, has been on a tear all season long and came in batting .402 with 16 homers. Gunther hung a 1-1 breaking ball and Jackson dealt the decisive blow, launching it over the left field fence for a grand slam to give the Dawgs a 5-1 lead.
- Jackson’s slam pushed Georgia’s home run total to 83, tops in the nation and 27 ahead of second-place Vanderbilt.
- USC has lost eight straight SEC road games dating back to April 26th of last year (5-4 at Kentucky).
- Despite the loss, there were some positive signs from the bullpen as Parker Marlatt, Zach Russell and Alex Philpott combined for four scoreless innings in relief of Gunther. Philpott was especially effective, retiring all six batters he faced.
- The Gamecocks (13-14, 1-6) will look to even the series at 2 p.m., Saturday.