No. 11 South Carolina vs. No. 8 Alabama, game 1 recap: Gamecocks beat Tide 9-3

It seems the USC offense has made a return. Now let's hope it doesn't go away again.

Alabama took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but South Carolina tied the game in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a throwing error that brought Marcus Mooney home. Then Grayson Greiner grounded out, but it was enough to get Gene Cone across the plate, putting the home team up 2-1.

That lead didn't last very long, though, as Mikey White homered to lead off the Crimson Tide portion of the third inning, which tied the game again.

Again, the score didn't last very long, as USC got some breathing room in the fourth inning. Greiner started things off with a single, then DC Arendas kept the inning alive with a two-out walk. Tanner English followed that with an RBI single, Mooney walked, and Cone came through with a triple that cleared the bases and made it 6-2 in favor of the Gamecocks.

Carolina padded its lead a little more in the eighth. Greiner opened things up with a home run, then after a Taylor Widener base hit, Arendas knocked an RBI double and English contributed an RBI single, which put the Gamecocks up 9-2.

The visitors mustered one final run in the ninth inning, thanks in part to some sloppy defense by USC.

Starter Jordan Montgomery was impressive again, although his line was a little funky tonight, because he gave up as many hits as he tallied Ks. Montgomery worked 6.1 innings and allowed eight hits, two runs, walked two batters, and struck out eight. He earned the win and is now 6-3. Cody Mincey and Joel Seddon combined to go the rest of the way for the home team. Seddon got the save, his 11th of the season.

Spencer Turnbull, Bama's starter, lasted seven innings and surrendered six hits, six runs, issued six walks, and recorded two Ks. He took the loss and falls to 5-3.

Greiner and English led the Gamecocks at the plate tonight with three hits each, while four different Tide players had two hits.

Cone was also quite impressive tonight, and he reached base all four times he was up to bat. As for Greiner, his homer ties him with the injured Max Schrock for the team lead, with five. This was also the fifth game in a row that the Gamecocks as a team registered 10 or more hits.

In less good news, Connor Bright had to leave the game, but at least it was due to sickness, not another injury.

South Carolina improves to 33-10 overall (10-8 in the SEC), while Alabama drops to 28-14 overall (12-7 in conference play). Game 2 of the series is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.