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After a rough outing on Sunday against Wright State, the Gamecocks bounced back with a win over Appalachian State.
Both teams were quiet in the first inning, but South Carolina got on the board in the second. Alex Destino took a walk to start things off, then LT Tolbert singled with two outs and both of them came home on Chris Cullen’s first home run of the season, making it 3-0.
That lead was short-lived though, because the Moutaineers got a three-run homer of their own to tie the game.
That score held until the fifth inning, when the Gamecocks regained the lead thanks to a leadoff solo shot from Jacob Olson. TJ Hopkins was up next, and he made it safely to first courtesy of an error. With one out, Matt Williams knocked a base hit, then Destino made it 5-3 with a sac fly.
Appalachian State cut into the lead in the sixth inning with another homer, but then Jacob Olson went yard again in the bottom of the seventh to get that run back, making the score 6-4.
The final two runs of the game came in the eighth inning, when Tolbert came through with a one-out single that brought both Destino and Carlos Cortes home.
Olson and Tolbert both had solid days at the plate, and after the entire offense was lackluster in Sunday’s game against Wright State, mustering just one run, it was good to see production from multiple players. That being said, it would also be good if they could get a little more consistency.
Starter Graham Lawson had a pretty decent outing, especially considering it was his first start. He worked 4 1⁄3 innings and allowed three hits and three runs, walked one batter, and struck out two. At one point, he retired seven Mountaineers in a row. Tyler Haswell, Josh Reagan, and Tyler Johnson also pitched in this game, and Reagan earned the win, his first of the season.
With the win, South Carolina improves to 6-3, while Appalachian State drops to 4-4. The Gamecocks will be back in action on Friday for the Clemson series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Clemson.