FINAL: Gamecock Pitching Staff Puts Together Masterful Performance In 2-1 Win Over No. 13 North Carolina
Coming into Tuesday night losers of five of their last seven games, Mark Kingston and the South Carolina Gamecocks looked to add a notable feather in their cap while simultaneously getting back on track against the No. 13-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. The Gamecocks wound up doing just that, winning the Border Battle in a low-scoring pitcher-staff duel. After two scoreless innings, Carolina would open up the scoring in the third inning, with singles from Ethan Petry and Parker Noland and a 3-2 walk issued to Kennedy Jones loading up the bases for Gavin Casas, who would hit a soft grounder to the Tar Heels' first baseman and score Petry, giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
Dylan Eskew would get the midweek start, and much like most of his outings, performed admirably the first time through the North Carolina batting order, giving up just three hits and four total baserunners in the first three innings. However, Dylan would run into trouble in the fourth inning, giving up a double and full-count walk to put runners on first and second base before being pulled for Roman Kimball, who would end the threat on a double play. Kimball would remain in the game through the sixth inning, putting together one of his better outings of the season, striking out five Tar Heel batters in just two and two-thirds innings and allowing just one baserunner via a walk.
Despite the solid work from Eskew and Kimball, North Carolina would notch things up in the seventh inning, knocking in a run after Parker Marlatt gave up a two-out RBI double to the right field wall. Needing to quell the sudden momentum shift that was in favor of the Powder Blue, Carolina would get their run back in the next half-inning, as Talmadge LeCroy would draw a full-count walk and a Dylan Brewer double would bring him home. Coming on in relief of Marlatt would be Connor McCreery, who would close out the game for Gamecocks, pitching a career-high two and one-third innings and striking out a career-high five batters, all while giving up just one hit.
The win likely will give South Carolina a much-needed confidence boost ahead of yet another road series against a Top 25 SEC opponent in the Florida Gators, with the three-game set beginning on Friday night.
You Might Also Like:
- MiLaysia Fulwiley Adds Another Major NIL Deal
- Dawn Staley Named National Coach Of The Year By USBWA
- Dawn Staley Talks How 'Defeats Within [The] Season' Has Prepared Gamecocks For Tournament
Join the community:
- Follow Andrew Lyon on Twitter: @ALyon_SC
- Follow Joseph Griffin on Twitter: @JosephGriffinJG
- Follow Locked On Gamecocks on Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts
You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to follow us on X at @GamecocksDigest and our page on Facebook!