Home run parade, strong pitching push Gamecocks to series-tying win over Florida
April 12, 2019
An uncharacteristically rough outing for its pitcher and lackluster hitting with runners in scoring position sunk South Carolina in its series opener against Florida on Thursday.
A career-best outing from its pitcher and a much-needed power surge helped USC even the series Friday, as the Gamecocks slugged their way past UF, 6-3.
All told, Carolina (21-14, 4-10 SEC) connected for four home runs on the evening, its most in conference play this year. Sophomore catcher Luke Berryhill had a two-run blast in the third, preceded by a solo shot from junior shortstop George Callil and followed by two more solo blasts from junior third baseman Quinntin Perez and senior first baseman Chris Cullen in the fourth.
Those homers backed up a quality start from redshirt freshman pitcher Cam Tringali, who went a career-high six innings while striking out three, walking none and giving up four hits.
Tringali’s only earned run allowed came after he exited in the seventh inning after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh. Florida then loaded the bases with two outs off a single and walk against freshman reliever Wesley Sweatt, and Sweatt was then pulled for freshman reliever Brett Kerry, who gave up a run on an infield single.
South Carolina’s only run that did not come off a long ball was in the second, as senior right fielder Jacob Olson smacked a double that ricocheted off the third baseman’s glove and into foul territory, then made it to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Cullen.
Kerry ran into trouble in the eight, giving up a single and walk to start the inning before battling back to record two outs. Florida, however, responded with a single and double to push two runs across. Kerry also faced trouble in the ninth with runners on second and third and two outs, but he rallied with a strikeout to close out the win.
April 12, 2019
An uncharacteristically rough outing for its pitcher and lackluster hitting with runners in scoring position sunk South Carolina in its series opener against Florida on Thursday.
A career-best outing from its pitcher and a much-needed power surge helped USC even the series Friday, as the Gamecocks slugged their way past UF, 6-3.
All told, Carolina (21-14, 4-10 SEC) connected for four home runs on the evening, its most in conference play this year. Sophomore catcher Luke Berryhill had a two-run blast in the third, preceded by a solo shot from junior shortstop George Callil and followed by two more solo blasts from junior third baseman Quinntin Perez and senior first baseman Chris Cullen in the fourth.
Those homers backed up a quality start from redshirt freshman pitcher Cam Tringali, who went a career-high six innings while striking out three, walking none and giving up four hits.
Tringali’s only earned run allowed came after he exited in the seventh inning after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh. Florida then loaded the bases with two outs off a single and walk against freshman reliever Wesley Sweatt, and Sweatt was then pulled for freshman reliever Brett Kerry, who gave up a run on an infield single.
South Carolina’s only run that did not come off a long ball was in the second, as senior right fielder Jacob Olson smacked a double that ricocheted off the third baseman’s glove and into foul territory, then made it to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Cullen.
Kerry ran into trouble in the eight, giving up a single and walk to start the inning before battling back to record two outs. Florida, however, responded with a single and double to push two runs across. Kerry also faced trouble in the ninth with runners on second and third and two outs, but he rallied with a strikeout to close out the win.