South Carolina vs. Alabama game three recap: Gamecocks pull away for series win

June 9, 2013; Cary, NC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks Graham Saiko (26, center) and Chase Vergason (16, far left) are greeted by teammates after scoring runs in the second inning against the North Carolina Tarheels during the Chapel Hill Super Regional at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

After being held to a single run yesterday, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ bats exploded in the rubber game of their three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Kyle Martin went 4-5 with two RBI, Gene Cone delivered a pair of RBI of his own, and the Gamecocks salvaged the final game of the series, winning 9-3 against the Tide.

For the first time this series, the Gamecocks struck first as Joey Pankake and Martin nailed back-to-back run-scoring hits to make it 2-0. Jordan Gore, 3-4 on the day, added to the lead in the 4th as he shot one up the middle to make it 3-0.

And things were chugging right along for Wil Crowe–until the 5th.

A potential inning-ending double play with the bases loaded turned out to be a mere fielder’s choice as Bama made it 3-1. Mikey White and Georgie Salem then delivered back-to-back hits to knot it at 3.

So how would the Gamecocks respond after that, given that the top and middle of their lineup was flat out shut down yesterday? As it turned out, very well.

Carolina (34-11, 12-9) would jump ahead for good, started off by another key hit by Cone–a 2-RBI single–to make it 5-3, capped by a Martin single to get it to 6-3. They tacked on one in the seventh and two in the eighth for the final margin as Cody Mincey and Joel Seddon combined to allow just two hits over the final four innings.

The Gamecocks travel to Georgia next weekend to take on the Bulldogs–Friday’s game is set for 7pm while Saturday and Sunday are 1pm starts.