COLUMBIA, S.C. - Matthew Brinson drove in the winning run with an eighth-inning double as Mississippi State avoided a three-game weekend sweep by beating South Carolina 2-1 on Sunday. <br>
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The Gamecocks (25-15, 9-9 Southeastern Conference) threatened in their half of the final two innings, but couldn't get the tying run home. <br>
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Todd Nicholas (4-1) got the win for the Bulldogs (28-9-1, 11-6), allowing three hits over seven innings. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth, allowing just a two-out double, to get his fourth save. <br>
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Chris Hernandez (2-3) pitched a complete game for South Carolina, allowing seven hits and picking up the loss. <br>
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Brinson also scored Mississippi State's first run, coming home on a second-inning single by Brad Corley. <br>
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The Gamecocks' scored their only run in the fourth, when Landon Powell's sacrifice fly scored Brian Buscher, who hit a leadoff triple. Buscher had two of South Carolina's four hits. <br>
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Each of the three games between the two teams this weekend was decided by one run.
