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After taking the week off for finals, the Gamecocks brought their god offense (this was admittedly a typo but we’re keeping it because it works) out to Founders Park again, blowing out No. 4 Ole Miss in the first game of this weekend’s series.
The Rebels got on the board first, going up 1-0 in the first inning thanks to a home run, but that lead was short-lived because South Carolina answered in the bottom of the inning. Carlos Cortes walked with one out, Madison Stokes singled, and Jonah Bride got to first safely on an error toload the bases. Justin Row came through with an RBI single that tied, the game, then Hunter Taylor singled to bring in two more runs and make it 3-1.
Ole Miss got one run back in the third inning, making the score 3-2, but again the Gamecocks answered in the bottom of the inning. Stokes knocked a base hit to start things off, Bride singled, and Row walked to fill the bases with no outs. A wild pitch brought Stokes home, then LT Tolbert smacked a two-run double to put USC up 6-2. With two outs, TJ Hopkins came through with an RBI single to give the Gamecocks a 7-2 lead.
South Carolina broke things even more wide open in the fourth inning. Stokes again singled to lead off, Bride walked, and Row singled to load the bases again with no outs. Tolbert grounded out and brought in a run that made the score 8-2, an error got Taylor to first safely and brought another run home, and then Jacob Olson belted a three-run homer to make it 12-2.
A solo home run and an RBI single for the Rebels made the score 12-4 in the fifth, and Ole Miss added another run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single to make it 12-5. The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth, after Taylor doubled to start things off and Matt Williams brought him home with a one-out RBI double.
Starter Logan Chapman worked four innings and allowed five hits and four runs. He walked three batters and struck out one. He earned the win and is now 4-0 on the season. TJ Shook, Ridge Chapman and Graham Lawson also pitched in this game.
With the win, South Carolina improves to 27-18 overall and 12-10 in the SEC, while Ole Miss is now 35-12 overall and 12-10 in conference play. They’ll meet again tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. at Founders Park. Adam Hill will start on the mound for the Gamecocks.