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Another game, another rally, another win. Just business as usual for USC, I guess.
The Gators took an early lead tonight, going up 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI single from Taylor Gushue. After that, each team had a handful of runners, but overall, both offenses were pretty quiet for the first half of the game.
In the fifth inning, though, the Gamecocks found a spark. DC Arendas, playing for the flu-infected Max Schrock, worked a one-out walk to put things in motion. Tanner English and Joey Pankake followed with back-to-back singles, packing the bases for Marcus Mooney. He executed a beauty of a squeeze bunt, and the game was tied at 1-1. Up next was Grayson Greiner, and - surprise, surprise - he knocked a 2RBI single to give Carolina a 3-1 lead.
Things got tense in the top of the eighth, when three walks loaded the bases with Gators. With only one out, it looked like things might take a turn for the worse, but Gamecocks reliever Joel Seddon managed to get a double play to end the threat.
Kyle Martin came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to give USC a little insurance, and the 4-1 score held for the remainder of the game.
Jordan Montgomery had a really strong outing tonight. He worked seven innings and allowed seven hits, one run, walked one batter and struck out eight. He also earned the win and is now 5-2. Cody Mincey made a brief appearance tonight, then Joel Seddon finished things off. He got the save, his ninth of the season.
UF starter Logan Shore, a freshman, had a very impressive night as well. He also lasted seven innings and gave up seven hits, four runs, issued two walks and tallied one K. He took the loss and falls to 3-2.
Martin had two hits to pace the home team, Peter Alonso and Josh Tobias also each had two to lead the visitors.
With the win, the Gamecocks move into sole possession of first place in the conference. South Carolina improves to 28-5 (8-5 in the SEC), while Florida drops to 21-13 (7-6 in conference play). The second game of the series is set to start Saturday at 4 p.m.