:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63403260/9070195.0.jpg)
The Gamecocks have gone with the “hit a lot of homers and hope it’s enough” offense in a number of games this season, and they did that again successfully Friday night, going yard a whole bunch to secure a win over Florida and set up a rubber game on Saturday.
South Carolina got on the board early, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning after Jacob Olson led off with a double, advanced on a wild pitch, and came home on an RBI single by Chris Cullen. The Gamecocks added several insurance runs in the next inning. Noah Campbell singled to start things off, then George Callil homered with one out to make the score 2-0. TJ Hopkins followed with a base hit, then Luke Berryhill went yard to put USC up 4-0.
The Gamecocks’ final two runs came in the fourth inning, when Quinntin Perez and Cullen launched back-to-back solo shots to start the inning, giving South Carolina 6-0 lead. The Gators ended the shutout in the seventh inning with a two-out RBI single from Jordan Butler that made it a 6-1 game. Florida made things interesting in the eighth inning by loading the bases, but they got just two runs out of it, thanks to two-out RBI singles from Jud Fabian and Kris Armstrong, and they left the bases loaded.
Gamecocks starter Cam Tringali had a nice outing, working six innings and allowing just four hits and one run. He didn’t walk any batters and struck out three. Tringali got the win and is now 2-0. Wesley Sweatt and Brett Kerry also pitched in the game. Gators starter Christian Scott took the loss and is now 3-2.
USC improves to 21-14 overall and 4-10 in conference play, while Florida is now 23-14 overall and 5-9 in the SEC. They’ll meet for the rubber game on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.