No. 7 South Carolina at Georgia, game 2 recap: Gamecocks defeat Bulldogs 5-2

The Gamecocks found some offense today, and despite leaving the bases loaded three (!!!!!) times, they came away with a much-needed win.

UGA was on the board first, thanks to an RBI from in the first inning from Nelson Ward. USC had a chance to tie or take the lead in the next inning, but instead left the bases loaded.

But then Grayson Greiner did Grayson Greiner things an belted a two-run homer in the third inning, which put the Gamecocks up 2-1. That inspired the Dawgs' Zack Bowers, though, and he went yard in the next inning to tie the game.

That score held for the middle innings, as neither team could muster much of anything offensively. Then Carolina got things going with two outs in the seventh. Greiner and Brison Celek took back-to-back walks, then Greiner crossed home when Tanner English kncokced an RBI single. Patrick Harrington followed that with an RBI base hit too, putting the visitors up 4-2.

Georgia loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but Cody Mincey, on in relief of Jack Wynkoop, worked his way out of the jam.

The Gamecocks had one more run left in them, and it came courtesy of an eighth-inning RBI double by Joey Pankake. They got the bases loaded again in the ninth, but Pankake ended the threat with by flying out (what a bum).

The Bulldogs made things interesting in the eighth, as a walk and a single that came when the ball took a horrible bounce but two runners on with two outs. But Joel Seddon got a strikeout to end the threat and the game.

Wynkoop had a strong outing and earned the win. He worked six innings and allowed five hits, two runs, walked one batter, and struck out three. Wynkoop earned the win and is now 6-3. Mincey and Seddon were the only other two players to take the mound for USC today, and Seddon got the save, his 13th of the season.

UGA starter Robert Tyler lasted 4.2 innings and gave up three hits, two runs, issued four walks, and tallied seven K's. Ross Ripple took the loss and falls to 2-1.

Pankake had two hits to lead the Gamecocks at the plate, while Stephen Wrenn had three to pace the Dawgs.

South Carolina improves to 35-12 (13-10 in the SEC) and Georgia drops to 22-23-1 (8-14-1 in conference play). They'll meet for the rubber game tomorrow at 1 p.m.