Gamecocks fall to NC A&T, shut out at home for first time in two years
March 26, 2019
Carolina baseball had its chances to push a run across the plate Tuesday night against North Carolina A&T.
But the Gamecocks’ offense vanished any time a runner reached base, and a strong pitching performance from USC went to waste in a 2-0 defeat at Founders Park.
It marks the first time Carolina (16-9) has been shut out at home since UNC Greensboro did so on Feb. 19, 2017.
Freshman Dylan Harley, making his first start in three weeks since being demoted from the weekend rotation, breezed through the first 2 2/3 innings, giving up a leadoff walk but nothing else.
But in the bottom of the third, Harley issued a two-out walk, and the Aggies made him pay. A double from Tony Mack drove in one run, and AJ Hunt followed with a groundball single to left field. Mack was waved home and beaten by the throw, but the ball popped out of catcher Luke Berryhill’s glove, giving NC A&T a 2-0 advantage.
That was the last baserunner Harley permitted all day — he exited after throwing 75 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the season. He was replaced by USC’s usual Friday night starter Wesley Sweatt who was nearly perfect, giving up one hit and no walks over 3 1/3 shutout innings, aided by solid infield defense from Olson and junior shortstop George Callil.
For North Carolina A&T, junior right-hander Michael Johnson went five innings, giving up three hits and two walks but no runs in a strong outing that kept the Gamecocks off-balance. Johnson was replaced by junior reliever Leon Davidson, who threw two no-hit innings and worked his way around a pair of walks.
South Carolina got its best chance of the night in the fourth, with a one-out double to the left field corner from senior third baseman Jacob Olson. A sacrifice fly and walk from senior first baseman Chris Cullen then put runners on the corners, but a strikeout ended the inning.
The Gamecocks also threatened in the bottom of the ninth when sophomore catcher Luke Berryhill led off with a double to right field. He advanced to third on a groundout but was stranded after two strikeouts.
Three other times, USC advanced a runner to second base, but every time there were already two outs and the runner was stranded. All told, the Gamecocks were 0 for 10 with runners on base on the night.
Callil had Carolina’s only other extra base hit, a double, and sophomore Noah Campbell reached base twice with a single and a walk.
March 26, 2019
Carolina baseball had its chances to push a run across the plate Tuesday night against North Carolina A&T.
But the Gamecocks’ offense vanished any time a runner reached base, and a strong pitching performance from USC went to waste in a 2-0 defeat at Founders Park.
It marks the first time Carolina (16-9) has been shut out at home since UNC Greensboro did so on Feb. 19, 2017.
Freshman Dylan Harley, making his first start in three weeks since being demoted from the weekend rotation, breezed through the first 2 2/3 innings, giving up a leadoff walk but nothing else.
But in the bottom of the third, Harley issued a two-out walk, and the Aggies made him pay. A double from Tony Mack drove in one run, and AJ Hunt followed with a groundball single to left field. Mack was waved home and beaten by the throw, but the ball popped out of catcher Luke Berryhill’s glove, giving NC A&T a 2-0 advantage.
That was the last baserunner Harley permitted all day — he exited after throwing 75 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the season. He was replaced by USC’s usual Friday night starter Wesley Sweatt who was nearly perfect, giving up one hit and no walks over 3 1/3 shutout innings, aided by solid infield defense from Olson and junior shortstop George Callil.
For North Carolina A&T, junior right-hander Michael Johnson went five innings, giving up three hits and two walks but no runs in a strong outing that kept the Gamecocks off-balance. Johnson was replaced by junior reliever Leon Davidson, who threw two no-hit innings and worked his way around a pair of walks.
South Carolina got its best chance of the night in the fourth, with a one-out double to the left field corner from senior third baseman Jacob Olson. A sacrifice fly and walk from senior first baseman Chris Cullen then put runners on the corners, but a strikeout ended the inning.
The Gamecocks also threatened in the bottom of the ninth when sophomore catcher Luke Berryhill led off with a double to right field. He advanced to third on a groundout but was stranded after two strikeouts.
Three other times, USC advanced a runner to second base, but every time there were already two outs and the runner was stranded. All told, the Gamecocks were 0 for 10 with runners on base on the night.
Callil had Carolina’s only other extra base hit, a double, and sophomore Noah Campbell reached base twice with a single and a walk.
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