South Carolina baseball (13-13, 1-5 SEC) dropped its midweek matchup against No. 13 North Carolina at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tuesday night. The Gamecocks had just five hits and struck out 14 times, while the pitching staff struggled despite a solid bullpen performance from sophomore left-hander Logan Prisco.
The Gamecocks took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after sophomore shortstop KJ Scobey walked with one out and later scored off an RBI single from senior designated hitter Jake Randolph.
North Carolina quickly responded in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run from junior second baseman Gavin Gallaher to take a 2-1 lead.
Prisco entered in the second inning and provided South Carolina with 4.1 innings of shutout work, with five strikeouts and only one walk.
The Tar Heels put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning after singles from graduate catcher Colin Hynek and junior third baseman Cooper Nicholson. A walk loaded the bases, but a groundout ended the North Carolina threat.
Despite Gamecock hitters reaching in the second, fourth and sixth innings, South Carolina was unable to respond to the 2-1 deficit.
Junior outfielder Owen Hullsingled and advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hull scored off a wild pitch from senior right-handed pitcher Cullen Horowicz to push North Carolina out 3-1 after six innings.
Another opportunity came for the Gamecocks in the seventh inning after sophomore first baseman Beau Hollins singled to center field with one out. South Carolina once again failed to answer after Hollins was caught stealing second, and junior centerfielder Tyler Bak flew out to end the potential rally.
North Carolina then gashed open the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring six runs to increase its lead to 9-1.
Two walks led off the bottom of the seventh inning from junior shortstop Jake Schaffner and Gallaher for the Tar Heels. Both runners advanced on a groundout, with junior designated hitter Macon Winslowwalking and Schaffner scoring on a wild pitch.
Winslow advanced to second on a passed ball, and a squeeze bunt from Hull scored Gallaher. The sixth run of the night for North Carolina scored on another wild pitch, this time from redshirt freshman right-hander Riley Goodman on the mound.
An RBI double from Hynek and an RBI single from freshman outfielder Tyler Howe continued to extend the Tar Heels' lead. The bases were loaded for North Carolina after a walk and a hit-by-pitch, with a sacrifice fly from Schaffner capping off the big six-run inning.
South Carolina would be unable to respond after the seventh inning and fell to North Carolina 9-1 in Charlotte.
What’s next?
South Carolina travels to Athens to take on No. 7 Georgia in a weekend series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.