ICYMI: South Carolina Baseball Sweeps No. 3 Florida

Gamecock baseball completed a phenomenal weekend of play, defeating third ranked Florida in back-to-back-to-back fashion for the series sweep.

Author:
Matthew Bishop
Publish date:
Apr 25, 2023 12:33 PM EDT

After last weekend's first series loss of the year, South Carolina looked to bounce back against Florida. The Gamecocks and Gators have both had tremendous seasons, leading to their top-six national rankings. The series also featured baseball's two home run leaders, Florida's Jac Caglianone and Carolina's Ethan Petry. The stage was set for a highly anticipated bout in Columbia.

Friday's game one began as a close affair. Neither team scored heavily, and the game was tied through the middle-sixth. Then, Carolina caught fire behind strong plate discipline. Five straight batters were walked unintentionally by two different Florida pitchers, and the Gamecocks gained an 8-3 lead. The seventh inning was just as dominant, but rather than plate discipline, batting prowess shined. Another three runs scored before the inning's third out, and the Gamecocks had a bases loaded opportunity with Cole Messina at the plate. Messina took full advantage of this opportunity, launching a pitch to the center field wall for a run-rule walk-off double, to win 13-3.

Game two began poorly for Carolina. Caglianone homered in the top of the first to give Florida a 1-0 lead, but Florida's lead didn't last long. Messina homered in the first as well with a runner on base, so the Gamecocks took a 2-1 lead. In the second, Jack Mahoney buckled down and held the Gators scoreless. Then, an Ethan Petry three-run homer raised Carolina's lead to 5-1, putting away the game. Florida scored once on an error in the fifth, but the contest resulted in a 5-2 Gamecock victory.

With two games down, all the Gamecocks needed for the coveted series sweep was a game three win. South Carolina started strong and never looked back. A Braylon Wimmer two-run homer took the lead in the first, and the second inning was a 1-1 draw, resulting in a 3-1 score through two. After a scoreless third inning, Gamecock downpour ensued. Strong batting doubled scoring to a 6-2 lead through five innings. Six runs would prove to be enough for Carolina despite a late rally by the Gators. The Gamecocks held on to win 7-5 and completed their series sweep.

Florida hadn't lost a series all season, so South Carolina completing the sweep, is an impressive feat and a signature win. The Gamecocks improved to 34-6 on the season and will be back in action, Friday, for a series against Auburn.

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