Sophomore pitcher Wil Crowe gave up only one run in six 1/3 innings of work while striking out a career-high 10 batters and No. 5 South Carolina’s offense came alive as the Gamecocks (1-1) defeated No. 25 College of Charleston (1-1) 6-1 in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader for their first win of the year.
South Carolina was able to jump on College of Charleston junior pitcher Nathan Helvey early on and held a 5-0 lead just two innings into the game.
Helvey, who went 3-4 in 2014 with a 3.78 ERA, struggled to keep control over his pitches as he walked five batters and gave up four hits.
The Gamecocks opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two-out rally. Senior first baseman Kyle Martin walked and a single to right field by freshman designated hitter Alex Destino sent him to third base. Martin would score on a passed ball that got behind College of Charleston sophomore catcher Erven Roper.
Martin went two for four at the plate and finished with two RBIs in his first start of the year after sitting out the first three innings of Friday’s season opener due to a violation of team rules.
The Gamecocks really opened things up in the second frame as sophomore shortstop Jordan Gore extended the lead with a two-RBI double to right field and a pair of RBI singles by sophomore center fielder Gene Cone and Martin sent in two more runs as well.
South Carolina added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth off of College of Charleston freshman relief pitcher Jake McBreairty.
College of Charleston’s lone run came in third inning when senior shortstop Champ Rowland hit an RBI single to center field to send in freshman designated hitter Tommy Richter.
One day after giving up two runs in four innings of work, the South Carolina bullpen shut down the Cougars.
Junior southpaw Vince Fiori recorded the final eight outs, giving up zero runs after Crowe exited the game.