Eli Jones pitched six innings of three-hit ball and USC manufactured five runs on five hits and an error in the second inning in a 5-1 win over Miami of Ohio Friday afternoon at Founders Park in the 2024 season opener. Jones allowed one run and struck out five in earning the victory. Garrett Gainey recorded the final two outs to record a save.
The Red Hawks scored their run off Jones in the top of the first. In the bottom of the second, the Gamecocks sent nine to the plate and got RBI singles from Talmadge LeCroy, Tyler Causey and Dylan Brewer for a 3-1 lead. Will Tippett bunted back to the pitcher for single, and a pair of errors on the play plated the fourth run. Blake Jackson got the fifth run home by grounding out to the pitcher and scoring the runner from third for an RBI and an unearned run
The Gamecocks had just one hit the rest of the way. The Redhawks had seven hits but stranded a dozen runners on base. They left runners on the corners in the fifth. In the seventh, Miami of Ohio loaded the bases with no outs. Chris Veach came on and got two strikeouts and a fly out to escape the jam.
The Redhawks again left runners on the corners in the eighth, and again loaded the bases in the ninth with two away. Gainey ended the game by inducing a ground ball to short.
Game two of the series is Saturday afternoon at Founders Park.
Box Score
Mark Kingston postgame press conference
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