South Carolina controls middle innings, ties series against No. 12 Oklahoma
After South Carolina’s Friday loss to No. 12 Oklahoma, Paul Mainieri took to the podium to admit his team was not a power-hitting squad. The Sooners had hit three solo home runs to South Carolina’s none on the evening.
On Saturday afternoon, the Gamecocks knocked two home runs for a total of four its 11 runs in the six-run win over the Sooners.
Hitting was a key attribute in the South Carolina win. The Gamecocks totaled four innings where at least six batters got in the box.
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A dominant fourth inning led the way for South Carolina in the win. A three-up three-down Oklahoma side set up a lead-off homer for Kennedy Jones on the Gamecocks side.
The hit was Jones’ second home run of the season, his first since Winthrop on Feb. 18.
Strong pitching early was what set up a lot of what the Gamecocks were able to do in the fourth. Jake McCoy worked himself out of jams in the opening two innings, throwing four strikeouts and a throw down to third catching a stealing Jason Walk with runners in scoring position. However, the second inning jam wouldn’t come without giving up the game’s opening run to Oklahoma.
Both teams found the strike zone well in the first as five of the six total batters, including all three Gamecocks, faced sat down on strikes.
In total, McCoy pitched five innings and recorded six strikeouts including four force outs and three ground outs. McCoy also totaled 109 pitches, allowing four runs and nine hits in 25 batters faced.
The majority of the Sooners offense came in the third, leading off the inning with two base hits and a home run to give the Sooners the lead back, 3-1. South Carolina subsequentially would set up a precursor for it’s strong fourth quarter with four hits and one run to pull back one on the Sooners lead after three.
Oklahoma scored three runs in the game’s opening three innings. Comparatively, the Sooners only plated two more runners after that point. After allowing seven hits in the opening three innings, South Carolina only allowed two more the rest of the way, including none between the sixth and ninth innings.
The South Carolina offense didn’t slow down as relief pitcher Michael Catalano entered for Oklahoma in the fifth, either. South Carolina took the right-hander’s second pitch to right field for a base hit. The hit set up a Jase Woita sacrifice fly to extend the Gamecocks lead, 6-4. The Sooners wouldn’t leave the inning without sacrificing another four runs and changing pitchers again.
In total, South Carolina plated 7 runs, totaled six hits including 16 batters in the box over the two innings.
The Gamecocks would continue piling on runs scoring an additional two runs before games end.
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