South Carolina extends win streak to five games
Continuing its early season success, South Carolina dominated Queens University, winning 13-3 on Wednesday. The depth and strength of South Carolina’s bullpen played a huge role in the victory.
Left-handed pitcher Matthew Becker heated things up on the mound for the Gamecocks early on. Becker was on a pitch count but managed to excel in the innings he did throw.
“I felt pretty good, felt pretty normal, back to normal for the first time in a while,” Becker said.
Becker finished with five strikeouts, two hits and no runs in two innings pitched.
“Fastball and curveball were good,” Head coach Mark Kingston said. “Again, when he’s riding that fastball and snapping that curve ball in there for strikes, he’s a hard guy to square up. Gave up the two hits in the two innings but only one walk, again five strikeouts is key.
Following Becker, freshman Tyler Pitzer took the mound in the third inning. Pitzer pitched three strikeouts, two hits, no runs in one inning pitched.
After Pitzer, Connor McCreery took the mound for the Gamecocks. Similarly to his teammates, McCreery pitched two strikeouts, one hit and no runs in one inning pitched.
After McCreery, Parker Marlatt entered the game and gave up Queens’ first run in five innings. Senior JJ Sousa hit a home run over the right field wall as the first batter Marlatt faced. However, Marlatt ended his only inning with one strikeout, one hit and one run.
Next, Sam Simpson took the mound for the Gamecocks, collecting two strikeouts. However, Simpson also had a home run hit off of him by Queens senior Tyler Cotto.
In the seventh, Chris Veach entered the game, pitching two strikeouts in three batters faced.
Concluding the game, Drake Quinn gave up one home run but got the Gamecocks out of a bases-loaded situation with one strikeout.
South Carolina pitchers threw a combined 17 strikeouts and only two walks. The depth of the Gamecocks bullpen contributed majorly to the struggle Queens faced at the plate.
“Real happy with how they are performing, again we have really emphasized throwing strikes and 17 strikeouts and two walks that’s about as good as you can ask for. I thought they all threw well, really showed good glimpses, gave up a few solo homers but solo homers don’t get you beat. I thought they all performed really well,” Kingston said.
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At the plate, Cole Messina continued to dominate. To start the game off on a strong note, Messina hit a three-run home run, 357 feet over the left field wall at 112 miles per hour. Messina contributed to South Carolina’s high number of runs with three RBIs but struck out twice.
Ethan Petry joined Messina and hit one out of the park late in the fifth inning. Overall, Petry scored three runs and one RBI off of two hits.
Will Tippett continued on his batting trends hitting another two RBIs.
Vanderbilt transfer Parker Noland has been strong both at second base and at the plate. Noland scored two runs off of one hit against Queens.
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Freshman Ryan Bakes started in his first college game against the Royals. In his first at-bat, Bakes singled to the pitcher at 96 MPH. Throughout the game, Bakes batted well hitting three RBIs off of three hits.
The bottom of the fourth inning was a major one for South Carolina. The Gamecocks scored five runs, including doubles from Bakes and Dylan Brewer and a triple from Talmadge LeCroy.
LeCroy has shown many signs of improvement throughout his time in Garnet and Black at the plate. Throughout the game, LeCroy scored one run and one RBI off of two hits.
“Just trying to do whatever is best for the team, trying to get on base as many times as I can,” LeCroy said. “Try to stay on the barrel as many times as I can and just see what happens.”
RELATED: South Carolina-Queens Box Score
Up next: South Carolina will play in a three-game weekend series at Founders Park against Belmont University. The first game will take place Friday at 4:00 p.m. and the game will be available to watch on SEC Network Plus.
