Founders Park: South Carolina ended the week Sunday afternoon with their only win of the week. Having last tasted victory eight days ago in Tuscaloosa, the Gamecocks built an early 3-0 lead over Texas A&M and held on for a 6-5 victory to salvage the third game of the series. The Gamecocks have lost three of their four SEC series thus far this season.
Ethan Petry, who had three hits and three RBIs on the day, put the Gamecocks on top in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer, his 13th of the season. Kennedy Jones made it 3-0 with a solo homer in the bottom of the third.
The Aggies scored a run in the top of the fourth, but the Gamecocks responded with two on a bases loaded walk to Jones and an RBI ground out to short by Petry for a 5-1 lead.
However, things would get tight for the Gamecocks. A two-run homer by Hayden Schott in the sixth brought the Aggies to within 5-3. USC had a golden opportunity to open things back up in the seventh loading the bases with no outs. They got one run on a sac fly by Dalton Reeves, but that was it
Texas A&M continued to apply the pressure, thanks to a two-run homer by Jace LaViolette in the top of the eighth inning that made it a 6-5 game. USC loaded the bases again with no one out in the bottom of the inning, but a strike out and two fly outs ended the threat.
It was up to Garrett Gainey to finish off the Aggies in the top of the ninth. Working his third inning, Gainey set them down in order with two ground outs and a strike out.
Matthew Becker gave the Gamecocks four strong innings to start the game. He allowed one run on five hits and struck out eight. Chris Veach worked the next two innings and earned his second win against one loss. Gainey picked up his fifth save.
The Gamecocks are now 21-10 and 6-6 in the SEC. They will play North Carolina Tuesday night in Charlotte.
