South Carolina baseball picked up its first Southeastern Conference series win of the 2026 season with a 3-0 sweep at Missouri.
This marks the first conference win since the Gamecocks defeated then-No. 11 Ole Miss at home on April 18, 2025. Despite two slow days at the plate by the Gamecock offense, the bats came alive for the series finale Saturday with 11 hits and four home runs to secure the sweep.
Late miscues hand South Carolina win in series opener
On a night where South Carolina batters struck out 10 times, the Gamecocks were able to capitalize on some late errors from Missouri to secure the 5-1 victory over the Tigers to start the series. Both starters on the mound had impressive outings that held both offenses to just seven hits combined.
Junior right-hander Brandon Stone made the start on the mound for South Carolina to open the series against the Tigers and had seven strikeouts with one earned run in his fourth win of the season.
Despite giving up five runs, junior right-handed pitcher Josh McDevitt provided Missouri with a solid start Thursday. McDevitt went seven innings and had eight strikeouts with one walk and one hit batter.
In the third inning, junior infielder Patrick Evans hit his sixth home run of the year to give South Carolina a 2-0 lead.
Missouri responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning after a leadoff double from graduate outfielder Pierre Seals put a runner in scoring position. The Tigers were able to score Seals, courtesy of an RBI groundout from former Gamecock and fifth-year first baseman Jase Woita.
South Carolina took a 4-1 lead after two Missouri errors at the top of the sixth inning. Junior centerfielder Tyler Bak doubled to lead off the inning, with fifth-year catcher Talmadge LeCroy reaching second base off a dropped pop-up by senior third baseman Keegan Knutson.
The Tigers threatened South Carolina’s three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning after a two-out walk and a hit-by-pitch from junior left-handed reliever Alex Valentin. Despite the action on the bases, sophomore right-hander Zach Russell entered and got the groundout from Knutson to end the inning.
South Carolina earned some insurance in the top of the eighth inning after Bak walked, and senior designated hitter Jake Randolph was hit by a pitch to reach with no outs.
A sacrifice bunt from LeCroy moved both runners into scoring position, with Randolph later scoring on a wild pitch to help secure the 5-1 win over Missouri.
Gamecocks earn first SEC series win of the season
Despite a lack of run support from the Gamecock offense, one unearned run proved to be the deciding factor in a 1-0 shutout victory against Missouri to claim the first conference series win of the season.
Junior right-hander Amp Phillips had another stellar start for South Carolina en route to his first series win on the mound. Phillips went eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts, five hits and just one walk.
The Tigers started sophomore left-handed pitcher Brady Kehlenbrink on the mound Friday night, and despite taking the loss, struck out ten Gamecock batters and gave up two hits.
The cold playing conditions on Friday evening were not ideal for both offenses, with the first baserunner of the game for both teams reaching in the top of the fourth inning. Bak had the one-out triple for South Carolina for the first hit of the game.
The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead in the fourth after LeCroy reached first off a throwing error by the Tigers' shortstop, scoring Bak on the play.
After the first 10 Missouri batters were retired by Phillips, the Tigers had their first hit of the contest in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out single from junior shortstop Kam Durnin. South Carolina avoided giving up a run after Durnin was caught stealing second by LeCroy, and a flyout kept the Gamecocks up 1-0 after four innings.
South Carolina had an opportunity to earn some insurance on its 1-0 lead at the top of the eighth inning after a double from senior outfielder Ethan Lizama. A sacrifice groundout from Randolph moved Lizama to third base, but a strikeout from Parker left him stranded.
Missouri threatened to walk off the game in the bottom of the ninth after the first two batters reached, ending Phillips’ night. LeCroy caught his second runner of the game out at third base after a double steal attempt for the first out, with right-handers Connor Chicoli and Alex Philpott tag teaming the last three outs to clench the first SEC series win for the Gamecocks.
Gamecocks survive late rally to earn first SEC series sweep
Looking for their first SEC sweep of the season, the Gamecocks were able to hold off Missouri in a 6-4 victory despite a late push from the Tigers.
Valentin made the start and had a solid outing, going four innings in his third start of the season. Valentin allowed just one hit, gave up two runs, struck out five and walked just one batter.
The Tigers started freshman right-hander Sam Rosand, who was credited with the loss. Rosand gave up four hits and two runs, striking out three and walking one before being replaced in the third inning.
The Gamecocks broke the deadlock in the second inning, taking a 2-0 lead. Lizama opened the frame with a single, followed by another single from sophomore infielder KJ Scobey. Both runners were able to advance after a wild pitch from Rosand.
An RBI single from junior infielder Dawson Harman scored both Lizama and Scobey before a fly out and line out ended the inning.
Harman extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning with his second home run of the season and his third RBI of the day.
Missouri answered back by cutting the deficit to 3-2 after Seals was walked with two outs. A home run from Woita gave them their first hit and first runs of the game.
The Gamecocks struck next in the sixth, taking a 5-2 lead courtesy of two solo home runs. Scobey went deep for the fifth time this season, while Harman hit his second home run of the day to pad the lead.
After holding the Tigers without a baserunner for the next three innings, freshman infielder Will Craddock extended the lead to 6-2 with the Gamecocks' fourth solo home run of the day and his eighth of the season.
The Tigers rallied in the bottom of the ninth, with Woita drawing a walk-off of Russell to begin the inning. A double from Knutson advanced Woita to third before a two-out, RBI single from senior catcher Jamal George scored one, making the score 6-3.
The Gamecocks then turned to Philpott to close out the game. An RBI double from redshirt freshman outfielder Jordan Donovan scored Knutson to cut the lead to 6-4 before Philpott forced a fly out to stop the rally and end the game, clinching the first SEC sweep of the season for the Gamecocks.
What's Next?
South Carolina returns to Founders Park Tuesday for a midweek matchup against Davidson. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be streaming on SEC Network+.