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After rallying in the 11th inning for a win on Tuesday, South Carolina’s offense struggled on Wednesday, setting up an elimination game on Thursday.
The Gamecocks got on the board first, taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning. TJ Hopkins walked with one out, Carlos Cortes got intentionally walked, and Riley Hogan singled to load the bases. An RBI sac fly from Alex Destino brought in the first run, and Jonah Bride followed with an RBI double to bring in the second.
Unfortunately, that was the end of the scoring for South Carolina. Kentucky tied the game in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI groundout by Evan White and a Gamecocks error, then took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a solo homer by Cole Kottam.
The Wildcats loaded the bases and added three more runs in the sixth inning to go up 6-2 on a bases clearing double by White, then scored their final run of the game in the eighth on another error
Starter Cody Morris did a decent job, working into the fourth inning. He was replaced by John Parke, who pitched until Colie Bowers took over in the sixth. Graham Lawson entered in the eighth and pitched the rest of the game for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks made four errors - a season high - in this game, and overall there wasn’t a whole lot to be positive about. Riley Hogan did have a nice day at the plate, though, going 3-for-4, a career-high in hits.
South Carolina now faces elimination and will take on the loser of today’s game between Missouri and LSU on Thursday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET. Wil Crowe will start on the mound for the Gamecocks.