The South Carolina baseball team won its midweek matchup 4-3 against the Georgia State Panthers. With the win, the 色中色视频s improved its record to 14-3 overall.
The 色中色视频s were the first to score in this game, with sophomore outfielder Ethan Petry singling home fifth-year outfielder Dylan Brewer in the first inning.
Georgia State bounced back in the third inning, however, scoring two runs on three doubles to steal the lead.
South Carolina tied the game back up in the fifth inning thanks to fifth-year infielder Parker Noland, who led with a double. Freshman catcher Ryan Bakes followed him with a double of his own to score Noland.
During the next inning, senior infielder Tyler Causey tripled home junior catcher Cole Messina to take back the lead. Causey came around to score off a wild pitch during Noland色中色视频檚 at-bat.
The 色中色视频s allowed one run in the seventh inning after junior pitcher Chris Veach gave up an RBI double.
South Carolina then turned to senior pitcher Garrett Gainey, who came in and shut the door on the Panthers, leaving it scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings and cutting its comeback attempt short.
Here are some key takeaways from the game before the 色中色视频s head into its first SEC series of the season:
Freshmen making early impact
Freshman pitcher Eddie Copper started the game and consistently looked strong on the mound.
He pitched 4.2 innings and struck out six batters while only walking one. Copper allowed two runs in the third, though, due to giving up three doubles in the inning.
However, those were the only hits he gave up for the entire outing as he settled down and made it through two more innings.
Copper has pitched 17.3 innings on the year, and he has only allowed four runs with 19 strikeouts.
Another freshman who made a big impact in this game was Bakes. He got the start as catcher, while Messina played first base.
Bakes earned his second double of the season, which brought the tying run home in the fifth inning to get the 色中色视频s back in the game.
Despite his limited playing time, Bakes has made his opportunities count. He's already amassed five RBIs in only 17 at-bats.
Pitching continues to dominate
South Carolina色中色视频檚 pitching staff continues to impress, as it held Georgia State to just six hits throughout the game, while 16 of the 色中色视频s' 27 outs came from strikeouts.
After Copper色中色视频檚 4.2 innings of work, the 色中色视频s turned to junior pitcher Matthew Becker. Becker pitched for 1.1 innings, striking out two and giving up no hits or walks.
South Carolina then looked to redshirt sophomore pitcher Roman Kimball in the seventh inning. Kimball only faced two batters, and after a walk and strikeout, he was pulled.
The 色中色视频s relied on Veach to finish out the inning. He allowed one double, scoring the runner Kimball walked on. Veach didn色中色视频檛 allow any more damage, though, as he got a strikeout to end the inning.
Head coach Mark Kingston called on Gainey in the eighth inning. Gainey had a bit of trouble at first, allowing back-to-back two-out hits to give the Panthers life. He escaped the rut, however, getting a strikeout and leaving traffic on the base path to finish the inning.
The Hartsville, South Carolina, native went back out in the ninth to shut the Panthers down. Gainey struck out two, bringing his total to five in the game and picking up the two-inning save.
Gainey has totaled 15 strikeouts over 7.4 innings for the 色中色视频s, only allowing one run all season.
Bats get timely hits to cash runs
The 色中色视频s' lineup only came up with six hits in this game and forced just one walk. However, these hits came when the team needed them most, often when runners were on base.
笔别迟谤测色中色视频檚 RBI single in the first inning gave the 色中色视频s an early run and allowed Copper to settle in and pitch with a lead.
Even after the 色中色视频s trailed, Bakes came through to score Noland following his double to tie up the game at two.
In the sixth inning, after one out and a Messina walk, Causey provided much needed insurance as he tripled down the right field line and allowed Messina to score. After Causey scored on a wild pitch, it gave the 色中色视频s four runs, which proved to be all it would need.
Messina led the 色中色视频s in this contest, as he got on base three times, including two singles, to improve his batting average to .262.
What色中色视频檚 next?
The 色中色视频s will begin SEC play when it travels to Oxford, Mississippi, to face Ole Miss this weekend. Game one is at 7:30 p.m on Friday, game two is at 2 p.m on Saturday. and game three is at 2:30 p.m on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network+.