South Carolina vs. Holy Cross game 1 recap: Gamecocks shut out Crusaders 10-0

South Carolina started the 2020 baseball season on a high note, rolling past Holy Cross thanks to a good offensive performance and high-quality pitching.

The first inning lasted 40 minutes, and the vast majority of that involved the Gamecocks at the plate, as they more than batted around and saw more than 40 pitches. With one out, Noah Campbell and Brennan Milone walked, then Bryant Bowen went yard to put Carolina up 3-0. Andrew Eyster followed that with a walk, then Braylen Wimmer got hit by a pitch with two outs and Dallas Beaver came through with a two-run double to make the score 5-0. George Callil brought another run in with a single to give the Gamecocks a 6-0 lead.

South Carolina tacked on another run in the next inning, thanks to a two-out homer from Eyster that put his team up 7-0. That score held until the sixth inning, when the Gamecocks got into the double digits. An error got Campbell to first with one out, Milone and Bowen walked to load the bases, and Eyster worked a walk too, forcing in the eighth run of the day for Carolina. With two outs, Wimmer knocked a single that brought in the final two runs of the game.

Starter Carmen Mlodzinski looked sharp, working seven full innings and giving up just six hits and no runs. He struck out three batters and walked one. Graham Lawson and Trey Tujetsch pitched the other shutout two innings, with neither one allowing a hit. Mlodzinski earned the win and is 1-0.

The Gamecocks are also 1-0 and will look to remain undefeated as they take on Holy Cross again on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Founders Park, and Brett Kerry is slated to start on the mound.