USC wins Sunday rubber match against top-ranked UF
Just like last season, South Carolina and Florida met over the weekend in a highly anticipated series between a pair of top-five ranked programs.
This time, however, the team wearing garnet and black was the last one standing.
After splitting the first two matchups, the No. 4 Gamecocks overcame an early deficit in game three with a three-run rally in the sixth inning and a bases-loaded walk in the eighth, upsetting the No. 1 Gators 4-3 to claim the series victory.
"There are a lot of battles in the SEC," said coach Ray Tanner. "Our guys kept competing and we fought back and were able to win a tough game on the road."
Left-hander Bryan Harper was selected to take the mound for Carolina in the rubber game, but proceeded to struggle early on. Following a scoreless first, the Gators' offense found a spark in the second, scoring three runs on three hits to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. The rally ended Harper's day, putting USC's fate in the hands of the bullpen.
On the other side of the ball, UF right-hander Karsten Whitson kept Carolina in check, allowing just two hits through the first five innings while striking out five. After Whitson was lifted following a leadoff walk in the sixth, however, USC's bats came to life. Christian Walker put the Gamecocks on the board with an RBI single, while an Adrian Morales sacrifice ground out and a Jake Williams base-hit made both teams even with three innings to go.
Right-handers Colby Holmes and John Taylor managed to hold off the Gators until closer Matt Price took over in the seventh. From there, the preseason All-American bounced back from a losing performance in game two to allow just one hit with one strikeout.
Still locked at 3-3 in the eighth, Morales stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, and with a full count, took a pitch high and inside for a walk, scoring Adam Matthews from third to give USC a one-run lead. Price handled it from there, retiring Florida in the ninth to secure Carolina's second-straight SEC series win.
The Gamecocks kicked off the weekend in the big way, rolling the Gators Friday night for a 9-2 thrashing. Lefty Michael Roth provided a gem en route to the win, going 8.1 innings while allowing two runs and striking out six.
"That gave us a chance to win," Tanner said. "I know we ended up scoring some runs, but they're good hitters. They ended up getting double digit hits. We were able to get some big outs when we needed to. It was certainly a special game for Roth."
Carolina's offense got started early, taking a 4-0 lead in the third behind two RBIs from Brady Thomas and RBIs from Morales and Peter Mooney. It added four more in the sixth with a towering home run from Williams and RBI base-hits from Mooney, Walker and Jackie Bradley Jr. Walker scored one more in the ninth, capping off the game one victory.
"We've had some good at-bats, no doubt about it," Tanner said. "To be able to come in here and beat a guy like [UF lefty] Brian Johnson isn't something that happens all the time. We were able to piece some things together. We played very well. You can't beat Florida unless you're at your best, and we played a great game."