Opportunity lost: Gamecocks fall apart late to hand Mississippi State win in game 2 Saturday final game of the season 2:00 pm ET
May 17, 2019
Gifted a pair of runs and riding a strong outing from the staff ace, South Carolina baseball looked like it might be able to make things interesting Friday night against No. 5 Mississippi State.
As the Gamecocks’ competition for the 12th and final SEC tournament spot were blown out by their respective opponents, Carolina had the chance to steal a win on the road and move ahead in the standings.
Instead, it all unraveled in rapid fashion late, and USC dropped its ninth conference series on the year in an 11-2 loss to the Bulldogs.
South Carolina (27-27, 7-22 SEC), Alabama and Kentucky all started and finished Friday evening tied for 12th place in the conference — Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt, and Alabama lost to Georgia.
As they did in the series opener Thursday, the Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead at Dudy-Noble Field on Friday, this time with plenty of help from MSU freshman starter JT Ginn.
In the top of the third, senior first baseman Chris Cullen got things started with a single, freshman second baseman Jonah Beamon moved him over on a sacrifice bunt and beat the throw to first, and sophomore left fielder Andrew Eyster walked to load the bases. Ginn then threw two wild pitches to plate a pair of runs.
On the mound, Carolina junior starter Reid Morgan held the potent Bulldog lineup in check for most of the night and was efficient in doing so, only needing 77 pitches to make it through six innings.
May 17, 2019
Gifted a pair of runs and riding a strong outing from the staff ace, South Carolina baseball looked like it might be able to make things interesting Friday night against No. 5 Mississippi State.
As the Gamecocks’ competition for the 12th and final SEC tournament spot were blown out by their respective opponents, Carolina had the chance to steal a win on the road and move ahead in the standings.
Instead, it all unraveled in rapid fashion late, and USC dropped its ninth conference series on the year in an 11-2 loss to the Bulldogs.
South Carolina (27-27, 7-22 SEC), Alabama and Kentucky all started and finished Friday evening tied for 12th place in the conference — Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt, and Alabama lost to Georgia.
As they did in the series opener Thursday, the Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead at Dudy-Noble Field on Friday, this time with plenty of help from MSU freshman starter JT Ginn.
In the top of the third, senior first baseman Chris Cullen got things started with a single, freshman second baseman Jonah Beamon moved him over on a sacrifice bunt and beat the throw to first, and sophomore left fielder Andrew Eyster walked to load the bases. Ginn then threw two wild pitches to plate a pair of runs.
On the mound, Carolina junior starter Reid Morgan held the potent Bulldog lineup in check for most of the night and was efficient in doing so, only needing 77 pitches to make it through six innings.