No. 22 South Carolina vs. No. 8 Georgia game 3 recap: Gamecocks swept by Bulldogs with 4-2 loss

After winning every nonconference series they’ve played so far, the No. 22 Gamecocks have gotten out to a less hot start in SEC play, falling to the No. 8 Bulldogs again on Sunday to mark the first time they’ve been swept this season.

Neither team scored until the fifth inning, when South Carolina finally ended the mutual shutout. Chris Cullen singled to start things off, Brady Allen reached on a fielder’s choice and Cullen advanced on a muffed throw, and Ian Jenkins walked to load the bases with no outs. With two outs, Quinntin Perez came through with an RBI single to make it 1-0, but unfortunately that was all the Gamecocks were able to get out of the inning.

USC clung to its lead until the top of the ninth inning, when Georgia tied the game then took the lead, courtesy of an RBI single by John Cable and a three-run homer from Tucker Maxwell that put the Bulldogs up 4-0. The Gamecocks managed to score just one run in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a solo shot from Jacob Olson.

South Carolina starter TJ Shook worked four shutout innings and allowed just one hit. He also walked three batters and struck six out. Brett Kerry and Sawyer Bridges combined to go the rest of the way for the Gamecocks, and Kerry took the loss, dropping him to 2-1 on the season. UGA reliever Zac Kristofak earned the win and improves to 3-0.

USC is now 14-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play, while the Bulldogs are 18-2 overall and 3-0 in the SEC. The Gamecocks will be back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to take on Furman. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.