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It's getting harder and harder to find positives in Gamecock baseball games . For this one...um...at least the other team didn't hit double digits? Elliott Caldwell tied the school record for triples in a season with his sixth? Outside of those, there's not really much to say that isn't negative.
After a scoreless first inning, in which South Carolina did not cash in on a good scoring opportunity (stop me if you've heard this before), Presbyterian scored four runs in the top of the second. The Gamecocks responded in the next inning, though. Madison Stokes singled and Max Schrock got plunked, then both came home on a base hit from Caldwell, cutting the Blue Hose's lead in half.
South Carolina added another run in the sixth inning. Caldwell led off with a triple, pinch hitter Alex Destino walked, and DC Arendas came through with a sac fly to get Caldwell home. The Gamecocks' final run came in the ninth inning. Gene Cone walked with one out, Stokes made it to first base on a defensive mistake, and an error by Presbyterian tied the game, forcing extras.
To South Carolina's credit, they did fight back tonight, which is at least something. Unfortunately, they promptly gave up three runs in the top of the 10th inning and went out with a whimper in the bottom of the inning.
Starting pitcher Tyler Johnson didn't make it out of the second inning tonight, and the Gamecocks used five more pitchers after he left the game, with Canaan Cropper, Josh Reagan, Brandon Murray, Cody Mincey, and Clarke Schmidt all taking the mound for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks have now lost four games in a row and drop to 23-15, while Presbyterian improves to 22-15. South Carolina will be back in action on Thursday, when they start a series with Vanderbilt. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Carolina Stadium.