No. 8 South Carolina’s bats came alive in the second of two games against 1-10 Penn State. The 14-3 Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead, and never looked back.
Top of the Order Sets the Tone
The 1-5 hitters did the damage for the Gamecocks. The group comprised of Gene Cone, Max Schrock, Kyle Martin, Elliott Caldwell and Alex Destinowent a combined 11-15 with 10 RBIs and two home runs.
Schrock blasted a three run shot in the fourth inning while Martin hit a solo shot in the seventh with the game already out of reach.
Destino singled in Schrock with the bases loaded in the first inning and cleared the bases with a three-run double in the sixth. It was his first game since last Friday.
Pitching By Committee
Associate head coach Jerry Meyers made the call to give Reed Scott his first start this season. The sophomore, usually used in relief, went just four innings, but allowed just one hit and no runs.
Junior college transfer Preston Johnson (2-0) relieved Scott to begin the fifth and earned the win despite giving up his first two runs of the season.
After Johnson came sophomores John Parke and Matthew Vogel, then freshmen Tyler Johnson and Canaan Cropper to finish the ninth inning.
Up Next
South Carolina will begin its conference slate at home this weekend against Kentucky. The Wildcats are 13-3 and riding an 11-game winning-streak. The Gamecocks' winning-streak was extended to seven games with the victories over the Nittany Lions.