Crowe, Gamecocks cruise against Campbell

The Gamecocks entered Sunday knowing they couldn’t win three games without winning the first.

Thanks to a big-time performance from their freshman pitcher, the Gamecocks accomplished that goal.

Wil Crowe’s NCAA tournament debut was one for the ages. Crowe tossed a complete game shutout, limiting Campbell to just three hits while striking out four. South Carolina’s typical Sunday starter, Crowe needed just 101 pitches to get through the game.

South Carolina opened the contest with one of the strangest half-innings of college baseball ever. Max Schrock was hit by a pitch, but appeared to be caught stealing on a failed hit-and-run. Schrock was initially sent back to first and batter Joey Pankake was called out on interference. After a lengthy conference, the umpires left the field and the game was delayed for over twelve minutes before Schrock was finally sent back to first and Pankake was allowed to continue his at-bat. The Gamecocks failed to score in the inning.

South Carolina struck in the third inning. After a two-out double from Schrock, Joey Pankake singled up the middle to give the Gamecocks an early 1-0 lead.

Connor Bright added to the Gamecock lead with an RBI double in the fourth inning, extending South Carolina’s lead to 2-0. Tanner English followed up with a single to make it 3-0. Schrock’s second double of the day gave the Gamecocks a 5-0 lead.

The Gamecocks added three insurance runs in the ninth when Jordan Gore roped a single into left field to score English. A Pankake bloop single scored Marcus Mooney, which Kyle Martin followed with an RBI single to right to make the score 8-0. Brison Celek’s pinch-hit single plated Pankake to cap the scoring for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina will face Maryland for the second time in the regional. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.