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This game was all Georgia early on, as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Skyler Weber knocked a one-out single, Zack Bowers got hit by a pitch, and Jared Walsh brought Weber home for the first run. With two outs, Trevor Kieboom contributed a single of his own to get Bowers across home plate.
Georgia added their only other runs in the second inning, again scoring a pair. Mike Bell led off with a walk, Stephen Wrenn singled with one out, and Weber knocked a base hit to get Bell home. A sac bunt was enough to bring in the second run, putting the Bulldogs up 4-0.
South Carolina got on the board in the fourth inning. Jordan Gore singled with one out, then advanced to second when Georgia's catcher bobbled the ball. He advanced on a wild pitch, and DC Arendas walked to put runners on the corners. Gene Cone came through with a two-out base hit, making the score 4-1.
That score held until the bottom of the ninth, when Cone walked to start things off, then with one out, Kyle Martin belted a two-out, two-run homer to pull the Gamecocks within one. Unfortunately, that was all they could muster.
There's not much left to say about the offense that hasn't already been said. It's stagnant, it's bad, and it's discouraging for everyone. I don't expect 10 runs in every game, but I don't think it's too much to ask to see improvement, some clutch hits, and contributions from more than one or two guys on most days/nights.
Because Jack Wynkoop pitched the conclusion of the first game Saturday afternoon, Reed Scott started this game. As an aside, I'm still not sure exactly why Wynkoop was used in that first game. Anyway, all things considered, Scott did a pretty good job, though he did take the loss. Scott worked into the eighth inning and allowed seven hits, four runs, walked three batters and struck out six. Preston Johnson also took the mound for South Carolina in this game, striking out all six batters he faced.
The Gamecocks drop to 18-9 overall and 4-4 in the SEC, while the Bulldogs improve to 18-10 overall and 5-3 in conference play. South Carolina will try to avoid being swept on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Carolina Stadium.