Jack's takes from South Carolina's 4-3 win over The Citadel
It wasn’t pretty, but South Carolina did enough to get the job done. The No. 20 Gamecocks held on to pick up a 4-3 win over The Citadel on Tuesday night.
This was a real combined effort to win this game. It took an early offensive showing and five pitchers to finish off the Bulldogs.
Here are my takes from the win.
[On3 App: Get South Carolina push notifications from GamecockCentral]
Freshmen stepped up big
Fresh off his big save from over the weekend, freshman right-hander Tyler Pitzer got the start on Tuesday. He didn’t last very long but pitched in and out of some trouble, giving up two runs in 2.1 innings.
Jake McCoy and Parker Marlatt, also freshmen, came in after Pitzer to keep the game in check. McCoy pitched 1.1 innings while striking out one and walking one. Marlatt looked solid, also going 1.1 innings with three strikeouts and one walk.
After them, the game was turned over to Connor McCreery and Garrett Gainey to slam the door. But South Carolina doesn’t win this game without the freshmen pitching the way they did.
Tippett continues to shine
I think it’s time to start taking Will Tippett a little more seriously. Why? Well, at this point, he’s been one of South Carolina’s most consistent players lately. On Tuesday, Tippett went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
His big moment was when he hit a solo homer in the seventh inning to give the Gamecocks a 4-2 lead. And it would be the difference in the game as that insurance run was critical.
Since making the switch to hitting just right-handed, Tippett is 6-for-15 in his last four games, including four extra base hits.
Let’s also not forget how good his defense has been. He made a big diving stop to take away a hit, and he also turned a double play in the late going to end a rally from The Citadel.
Now that he’s getting on base more, this will only help the lineup. He’s one of the faster guys out there, leading the team in stolen bases. If he climbs aboard, he’s more than able to steal a base to get into scoring position. It’s just a matter of whether or not guys can drive him in.
[Newsletters: Get breaking news and analysis from GamecockCentral]
Great roadtrip
South Carolina will finish its roadtrip 4-1, with two midweek wins and a series victory over Florida in Gainesville. For not playing their best ball before then, the Gamecocks looked energized and a lot better out there.
Sure, Tuesday’s win wasn’t that impressive. But they never trailed in the game and held off every big rally the Bulldogs put together. At the end of the day, they got the win. Win at all costs.
Looking ahead, the schedule doesn’t get easier, but when does it ever? This is the SEC after all. South Carolina hosts No. 2 Arkansas in a huge weekend series at Founders Park, starting Friday night. It’s going to be tough, but if the Gamecocks can find a way to win at least two of three, they’ll be in a great spot for the long haul.
