COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 14 South Carolina scored four runs in the first inning, going on to defeat Gardner-Webb by a 9-4 score in Tuesday's midweek bout at Founders Park.
Gardner-Webb falls to 7-10 on the season, seeing its four-game win streak broken, while South Carolina improves to 17-6, expanding its win streak to six consecutive games.
The Gamecocks jumped out to an immediate lead in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs with no outs off of GWU starter
Noah Davis. The 'Dogs went to their bullpen, bringing in reliever
Luke Goodyear for his first appearance of the season, who recorded three straight outs to end the threat.
South Carolina added an additional run in the bottom of the third before Gardner-Webb got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning.
Cam Pearcey led off the frame by belting a stand-up triple to the right field gap, and was later sent across home plate on a double by
Patrick Ferguson to left field to set the score at 5-1.
The Gamecocks added solo runs in the fourth and fifth before the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to scratch again in the top of the sixth inning.
Erlc Jones led off, connecting with a base knock on the first pitch he saw to right field. Jones would advance into scoring position on a wild pitch, setting up a RBI single to right field by Ferguson with two outs, making the score 7-2.
South Carolina plated two more runs in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run home run.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added two more runs in the final innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning,
Keiji Parkhurst uncorked a 2-1 pitch into the stands in left field with two outs, his fifth home run of the season.
In the ninth,
Mitch McLendon drove in a run on a fielder's choice, plating
Pete Capobianco who reached earlier in the frame on a fielder's choice.
Gardner-Webb totaled nine base hits on the evening, with Parkhurst (2-for-4, HR, RBI), Ferguson (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and
Joe Simone (2-for-4) each having multiple-hit outings.
South Carolina collected 13 hits, with Brady Allen (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Wes Clarke (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and George Callil (1-for-3, HR, RBI) doing the most damage at the plate.
Davis (0-1) took the loss for GWU on the mound, allowing four runs on five base hits in the start. The 'Dogs used a total of nine arms on the evening.
Jack Mahoney (1-0) earned the win for the Gamecocks, allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts in four innings of work in the start. Five relievers combined to hurl the remainder of the contest.
Gardner-Webb steps back into Big South Conference play Thursday afternoon, opening a three-game series with Longwood a with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
