South Carolina baseball is in the midst of probably the hardest part of any college baseball schedule in the country. Last weekend, the Gamecocks battled the #1 LSU Tigers, they traveled to Nashville to face the #4 Vanderbilt Commodores, and next weekend’s test will be the #3 Florida Gators. The ‘Cocks and Bayou Bengals split a rain-shortened series, and Carolina beat the USC-Upstate Spartans before making the trip up to Nashville.
The series started well for the Gamecocks. Cole Messina’s bat put the visitors up 2-0 in the first when the powerful backstop launched his first of two bombs on the day. Vandy responded with 4 in the 2nd off of Gamecock starter Will Sanders, but the game was tied again after two solo dingers from Messina and Michael Braswell. The YardCocks busted the game wide open with 9 runs over the next two frames, including opposite field blasts from Ethan Petry and Carson Hornung. Sanders got the win as Carolina won big 14-6.
Game 2 was well in control for Mark Kingston’s club as they jumped out 4-0 in the first. The Commodores clawed back to make it 4-3, and then the bottom of the fifth happened. With one out, the bases loaded, and one run already in, RJ Austin hit a ball to the wall. Gamecock centerfielder Evan Stone made an amazing play in center to keep the ball in the yard and appeared to catch it and double up the runner on third to end the inning.
Instead, after a lengthy review, the play was overturned, giving the ‘Dores a run and the Gamecocks a double play on force outs…somehow. There was never a full explanation given for what was seen on replay to overturn the call on the field, but Vandy took the lead and never gave it back. A solo homer from Braylen Wimmer was the Gamecocks could add after that point, as the Commodores took the second game 8-5.
The Sunday finale saw Carolina battling from behind most of the game. Another Petry shot gave the Gamecocks an early lead, but Vanderbilt answered in the second. Starter Matthew Becker was good enough to win, but his offense only scored once while he was on the hill. After a brief tie thanks to a Petry sacrifice fly, Eli Jones and Cade Austin combined to give up three runs in the sixth inning, bringing the score to 5-2 in favor of the home Commodores. The lead held as Carolina was unable to come back, losing 6-4. The Commodores took the series two games to one.
Vanderbilt is a very good program, but South Carolina baseball shot itself in the foot all weekend. The team had 8 or 9 errors depending on which scorebook you check, and 3B Talmadge LeCroy accounted for 5 or 6 of those errors. His errors led directly to 5 or 6 runs (again, depending on the scorebook). 2B Michael Braswell struggled as well, adding two errors of his own. Other defensive miscues cost the Gamecocks, as well, but those avoided the “E” designation. That type of defense won’t cut it in the SEC, especially not against a top-5 program like Vanderbilt.
Mark Kingston’s team will look to bounce back next week with a “get right” game in the mid-week against a below-.500 Charleston Southern program on Tuesday before another big SEC weekend series. The CSU first pitch will be at 7:00 on the SECNetwork+, and the Gamecocks will welcome the Florida Gators to Columbia for a Thursday (7:30 on ESPNU), Friday (7:00 on SECNetwork+), and Saturday (2:00 on SECNetwork+) series.