Four-run sixth helps South Carolina pick up bounce back win in game two
Sometimes all it takes is one good swing to put the wheels in motion for the rest of the team.
Despite all of its struggles up to this point, it still felt like South Carolina (27-12, 9-8 SEC) was in a good spot. At some point, the bats were going to come through. This lineup had too much talent not to do so.
And in the sixth, the Gamecocks would get the big hit, albeit from an unlikely hero. Coming into Saturday, Austin Brinling had just three at-bats to his name in a Gamecock uniform. But in his second straight start, he showed why he’s earned some playing time after lining a 1-2 pitch into center field to bring home a huge run.
From there, the bats seemingly woke up and put up a four spot in the inning to pull away to a 6-3 win over No. 2 Arkansas in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday.
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After making a pitching change, the Razorbacks decided to walk Cole Messina to load the bases with one out. While it might’ve seemed like an unwise decision with Ethan Petry due up, it ultimately worked out for the most part. Petry grounded out too short to bring home another run. But now there were two outs.
Just when it looked like Arkansas might avoid a disastrous inning, Parker Noland ripped a two-run single into right field to make it a 6-1 game.
Matthew Becker did his job in picking up Eli Jones, who only pitched four innings of one-run ball. Becker tossed 2.1 hitless innings to take some stress off the bullpen, which had its work cut out on Friday.
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But in the seventh, Becker did work into a jam as he walked the bases loaded with one out. With this in mind, South Carolina called on Garrett Gainey to come in and get out of it. And after allowing an RBI groundout, he’d get a fly out to end the threat.
After working through a clean eighth, Gainey would give up a solo homer to Peyton Stovall to begin the ninth. As his pitch count continued to rise, he’d keep getting hit around and eventually exited with the bases loaded and one out.
Needing just two more outs, Connor McCreery came in and did his job. He’d field a grounder back to the mound and flipped to Messina for the force out at the plate. Then, he struck out Jayson Jones to seal the deal.
Up next: South Carolina will go for the series win in game two of the doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is at 5:15 p.m. on SEC Network Plus. The Gamecocks have yet to announce a starting pitcher.
