COLUMBIA: Power Display, Solid Pitching Leads Baseball to Run-Rule Win over ETSU

Four home runs and an eight-run fourth inning lifted the University of South Carolina baseball team to a 15-2, 7-inning victory over East Tennessee State Wednesday night (May 1) at Founders Park. ETSU put up a pair of runs in the first, but Carolina answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame.

Power at the Plate

After Austin Brinling walked, Ethan Petry hit his 16th home run of the year, a shot to the home bullpen. Carolina then scored on Kennedy Jones’ sacrifice fly and a double steal that plated Cole Messina. Gavin Casas gave the Gamecocks a 6-2 lead in the third with a two-run single. Three home runs in the fourth from Kennedy Jones, Dalton Reeves, and Messina helped Carolina to the run-rule win.

Strong Pitching

The Gamecock pitching staff allowed only three hits on the night. Jake McCoy picked up the win with two strikeouts in two innings. The final four arms – Chris Veach, Connor McCreery, Drake Quinn, and Garrett Gainey – did not allow a hit with Gainey striking out the side.

Standout Performances

Jones drove in four runs while Messina was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Casas and Blake Jackson had two hits apiece, and Petry had three RBI.

Postgame Notes

The Gamecocks earned its second straight run-rule win. Carolina is hitting .329 with nine home runs in the last five games. East Tennessee State came into tonight’s game with an RPI of 52. Carolina finished off its final midweek home game of the season.

Up Next

Carolina opens a three-game series at Missouri on Friday night (May 3) at 7 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. CDT). The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.