:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49595239/4568598.0.0.jpg)
I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: the Gamecocks offense is bad right now and this game was ugly.
South Carolina got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning. TJ Hopkins led off with a single, Gene Cone got plunked, and with one out, Alex Destino's RBI groundout brought Hopkins home.
Texas A&M tied things up in the next inning with the help of a Gamecocks error, then took the lead on a two-run homer by Ryne Birk, making it 3-1. South Carolina pulled within one run in the bottom of the inning, though, thanks to a one-out homer from Madison Stokes.
The Aggies added another run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Nick Banks and scored their final run of the night in the seventh on an RBI sac fly from Ronnie Gideon.
Much like last night, the Gamecocks' offense was pretty much MIA from start to finish. They had numerous chances to score but left runners stranded time and again, and this lack of clutch hitting has gone from mildly concerning to a full-blown problem. Obviously they're not going to get runners home 100 percent of the time or score 10 runs per game, but the offense as a whole has looked inept in inning after inning recently.
As for pitching, starter Braden Webb did a decent job tonight. He worked into the sixth inning and allowed seven hits, two runs, walked three batters and struck out seven. Reed Scott also pitched in this game.
With the loss, South Carolina falls to 37-13 overall and 16-9 in conference play, while Texas A&M is now 39-10 overall and 18-9 in conference play. The Gamecocks will try to avoid getting swept on Sunday, with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m at Founder's Park. Adam Hill will start on the mound for the home team.