USC Upstate upends South Carolina, delivers Gamecocks another midweek loss

South Carolina baseball’s possibilities at making a late-season push for a shot on the postseason continued to dwindle Tuesday night time, because the Gamecocks dropped a midweek recreation to USC Upstate 9-6 at Founders Park.

South Carolina (24-23, 10-14 SEC) was unable to claw again from an early 4-0 deficit to the visiting Spartans, who continued so as to add onto their early lead all through the night time and tallied 11 hits to the Gamecocks’ seven.

It was USC Upstate’s first win in program historical past over the Gamecocks, which beforehand held a 13-0 mark over the Spartans.

“It was a type of nights the place we simply couldn’t get something going,” head coach Mark Kingston stated.

USC Upstate (31-18, 16-5 Large South) is the second-best staff in its convention this 12 months however had an RPI of 110 heading into Tuesday’s matchup. South Carolina’s RPI was 68. Three different distinguished midweek losses for the Gamecocks in 2022 got here in opposition to groups with worse RPIs than theirs — Xavier (73), Presbyterian (116) and The Citadel (234).

USC Upstate received off to a powerful begin in opposition to South Carolina beginning pitcher Eli Jones, who exited after tossing 46 pitches in 1.1 innings. Just below every week faraway from his first profession win, Jones was charged with all 4 runs of the Spartans’ productive second inning.

Jones met with USC’s coach and Kingston earlier than strolling off the mound, having just lately recovered from Tommy John surgical procedure. Aidan Hunter pitched 5.2 innings out of the bullpen, permitting 5 runs on seven hits with 5 strikeouts. John Gilreath allowed no runs and one hit with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.

Kingston didn’t have an instantaneous replace on Jones’ well being, saying he “didn’t really feel proper tonight” and would want to seek the advice of with trainers and docs.

The Gamecocks’ night time wasn’t helped by a less-than-stellar offensive efficiency, as South Carolina batters have been retired so as all through the primary, third, fifth and seventh innings. After they did attain base, 9 Gamecocks have been left stranded Tuesday.

The Gamecocks first discovered offensive rhythm within the backside of the second, as Andrew Eyster, Braylen Wimmer and Michael Braswell loaded the bases with no outs. South Carolina mustered one run out of it because of a sacrifice fly from Jalen Vasquez, however Colin Burgess later grounded right into a double play to depart Wimmer and Braswell stranded.

Josiah Sightler hit his twelfth house run of the season within the fourth to chop into USC Upstate’s lead. However the Gamecocks weren’t capable of capitalize on an ensuing alternative, as Evan Stone grounded out and left bases loaded within the fourth.

The Gamecocks loaded the bases 3 times within the sixth and received three runs off it. Talmadge LeCroy hit a sacrifice fly that scored Wimmer earlier than Brandt Belk’s two-run single introduced the Gamecocks inside two within the backside of the sixth.

The Gamecocks are nonetheless working to safe an opportunity at a postseason bid. USC missed out on NCAA Area of 64 projections from each Baseball America and D1Baseball when the web sites final up to date Might 4 and misplaced final weekend’s sequence at Texas A&M 2-1.

Tuesday’s loss to USC Upsate issues, because the Gamecocks had hoped to bolster a resume that additionally contains the prior midweek losses in addition to a 3-12 file on the highway.

Collection wins over Vanderbilt and Texas and a convention sweep of Alabama assist South Carolina’s case, although a powerful end in SEC play stays vital for the postseason. The Gamecocks might want to win 5 of their final six convention video games to succeed in .500 within the SEC.

The subsequent — and remaining — two SEC sequence in opposition to Kentucky at house at in opposition to Florida in Gainesville are vital for South Carolina, which has but to safe a protected place within the SEC match that begins Might 24 in Hoover, Alabama.

However Kingston stated he doesn’t see taking part in SEC baseball as stress, whatever the stakes.

“There’s no such factor as stress in baseball, for my part,” Kingston stated. “It’s alternative. There’s numerous issues on this world which are stress. Attending to play baseball within the SEC mustn’t really feel like stress. It ought to really feel like an incredible alternative, and that’s how we’re going to strategy it.”

Two of the convention’s 14 groups is not going to obtain a bid to the SEC match, which incorporates division winners and 10 at-large picks seeded by convention successful share. Following the Texas A&M sequence, South Carolina (.417) owns tiebreakers over Ole Miss (.417) and Alabama (.417) for the No. 9 spot, however Kentucky (.375) and Mississippi State (.375) aren’t far behind.

Although South Carolina’s margin of error continues to slim, Kingston stated he had religion within the Gamecocks’ preparation and perception.

“In the event that they haven’t given in by now, they’re not gonna give in,” Kingston stated. “And that’s what we stated after Saturday’s intestine punch once we gave up the massive lead, took a lead after which gave it up once more. If the sport hasn’t killed us but, it’s not going to. So it’s only a matter of taking this — one other punch tonight —and popping out able to go. They’ll be able to go.”

South Carolina baseball remaining schedule

• Friday, Might 13: vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. (SEC Community Plus)
• Saturday, Might 14: vs. Kentucky, midday (SEC Community)
• Saturday, Might 15: vs. Kentucky, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Community Plus)

• Tuesday, Might 17: vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m. (SEC Community Plus)

• Thursday, Might 19: at Florida, 7 p.m. (SEC Community Plus)

• Friday, Might 20: at Florida, 7 p.m. (SEC Community Plus)

• Thursday, Might 21: at Florida, 2 p.m. (SEC Community Plus)

This story was initially revealed Might 10, 2022 10:30 PM.