The Gamecocks won their fourth straight game 8-6 Tuesday evening against Davidson College at Ray Tanner Field at Founder's Park. South Carolina dug deep into its bullpen in this one, throwing six different pitchers throughout the game.
South Carolina's freshman starting pitcher Riley Goodman had no chance to settle in to the game, surrendering a hard-hit single on the games first pitch to freshman infielder Matthew Vannoy. An error on a play from junior third baseman Dawson Harman on a throw to first allowed Vannoy to take third and redshirt catcher Anthony Torreso to take second.
Vannoy was driven in on a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Forrest Lietz, giving Davidson a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.
The Gamecocks answered instantly in the bottom of the first off, with a solo leadoff home run from freshman infielder Will Craddock.
"The reason that we scored five runs in the first inning is because of Craddock," interim head coach Monte Lee said.
South Carolina kept the momentum rolling, as the Gamecocks launched two more home runs off the bats of fifth-year catcher Talmadge LeCroy and sophomore shortstop KJ Scobey in the opening inning.
Accompanied by base hits from Harman and junior outfielder Tyler Bak, the Gamecocks scored five runs in the first.
Goodman continued to struggle in his second inning the game, allowing singles to open the frame to senior left fielder Scotty Edwards and sophomore second baseman Cooper Collins.
Remaining on the mound, the right-hander then surrendered back-to-back home runs to freshman catcher Brendan Fritch and sophomore shortstop Fredy Diaz. The five runs put an end to Goodman's day, bringing in junior righty Josh Gregoire into a 5-5 game with no outs in the second.
Despite a walk and giving up a single, Gregoire struck out the other three hitters to escape the inning without allowing a run of his own.
Gregoire settled in, striking out a pair in the third and taking down the Wildcats in order for the first time.
Pitching continued to be a struggle, as the baseball kept finding barrels on both sides. Davidson sophomore outfielder Jamie Daly got into the action, hitting a towering shot over the right field fence to take a 6-5 Wildcat lead in the top of the fourth inning.
After the solo home run, Lee went back to his bullpen, bringing in sophomore left-handed pitcher Logan Prisco with two outs in the fourth.
Playing small ball in the bottom of the fourth, the Gamecock offense faced its first lefty in redshirt freshman Carson Taggart. Finding success without any launch angle, senior outfielder Luke Yuhaz led off the inning with a single that went under second basemen's glove. Complimented by Craddock getting hit, two straight infield RBI-singles by Bak and LeCroy the regained the Gamecock lead 7-6.
After producing its first shutdown inning in the top of the fifth, the offense responded, extending the lead by Yuhasz and driving in senior outfielder Ethan Lizama on a fielder's choice.
Junior Josh Gunther relived Prisco to begin the seventh inning. Prisco threw 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out five hitters in the process.
"What makes him so tough is his fast ball has what we call carry on it," Lee said. "If he can throw his fastball up around the belt, they're just not going to hit it."
Gunther's struggles with his command continued, as only seven of his 18 pitches found the strike zone, and he loaded the bases before being relieved, managing only two outs.
Junior right-handed pitcher Parker Marlatt was tasked with the bases loaded jam and got out of it. Harman made an athletic play to record the out leaning over the netting on the third base foul line to maintain an 8-6 Gamecock lead.
Right-handed sophomore Cooper Parks earned the save finishing the game halting a brief Wildcat rally that saw the go-ahead run at the plate with one out.
What's next?
The Gamecocks will continue a nine-game home stand this weekend against No. 17 Mississippi State. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Friday, and the game will be streaming on SEC Network+.