ATHENS, Ga. — The 14th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks extended their winning streak to 10 straight after sweeping a doubleheader over Georgia Saturday at Foley Field.
South Carolina (19-1, 2-0 SEC) rallied past Georgia in game one, 5-4, using two runs in the ninth inning before claiming the second game 12-2 via a run rule in seven innings. Georgia falls to 13-6 (0-2 SEC).
“We have to fight tomorrow,” Georgia’s Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin said. “You lose that first one, that is baseball. It is tough, but it happens. It is really tough to lose that one, but you have to have the ability to bounce back. We did not do a very good job of bouncing back. Tomorrow, we have to turn the page, play it like it is our last game and do everything we can to salvage the series.”
The final game of the series will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be aired live on SEC Network and available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
Game One: USC 5, Georgia 4
Two South Carolina runs in the top of the ninth propelled the Gamecocks past Georgia 5-4 in the SEC opener for both clubs.
The Gamecocks scored two runs in the top of the second before Corey Collins fired back with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the frame. South Carolina added a third run to the board in the fourth to lead 3-1. With Charlie Condon on second and two outs, Parks Harber launched a homer to left field to tie at 3-all.
Junior Jaden Woods started for Georgia and threw a career high 7.0 innings and tied his career high with 11 strikeouts, allowing only three runs off seven hits. The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Fernando Gonzalez reached on a leadoff double and Mason LaPlante sent a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 advantage.
With two runners on no outs, freshman Matthew Hoskins (1-1) was called from the bullpen in the eighth. He got the Bulldogs out of the jam but USC rallied in the ninth. South Carolina’s Chris Veach (1-0) got the win for the Gamecocks, pitching an inning and allowing one hit and one walk. James Hicks (2) notched a save by getting the final out as the Bulldogs stranded a runner at third.
Game Two: USC 12, Georgia 2
Seven runs in the fifth inning lifted the Gamecocks past the Bulldogs 12-2 to clinch the series as the game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.
Georgia led 1-0 after a Harber solo home run in the second but USC responded with four in the third off junior Liam Sullivan who dropped to 3-1.
Redshirt freshman Charlie Condon extended his hitting streak to 18 games with the first Georgia hit in the first inning. Harber extended his hitting streak to eight games with his home run. USC freshman Ethan Petry went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs and five RBI to lead a 12-hit attack.
South Carolina added one run in the fourth and seven in the fifth inning to build a 12-1 lead. With two Bulldogs on base, Harber sent a single to left field to score Connor Tate in the bottom of the sixth, 12-2. South Carolina right-hander Noah Hall (4-0) pitched a complete game, scattering two runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
