South Carolina vs. Holy Cross game 2 recap: Gamecocks beat Crusaders 9-4

South Carolina kept things rolling on the diamond on Saturday, using another strong first inning to help them top Holy Cross for the second game in a row.

The Gamecocks again batted around in the first inning, racking up five runs and getting some help from the Crusaders’ miscues. Brady Allen walked to start things off, Brennan Milon was safe thanks to an error, and Andrew Eyster knocked a one-out RBI single to bring Allen home for the first run of the game. Noah Campbell followed with an RBI sac bunt to make it 2-0, then Wes Clarke helped out with a run-scoring single to put USC up 3-0. Another error got Braylen Wimmer to first safely, Colin Burgess walked, and George Callil came through with a two-run base hit to make the score 5-0.

Holy Cross got a couple of runs back in the next inning, courtesy of a leadoff triple from Austin Masel, an RBI groundout by David Kale, a two-out double from Riley Livingston, and a two-run homer by Ben Dellacono that made it 5-3. That score held until the fifth inning, when the Gamecocks added another run on a one-out solo shot from Eyster, which put his team up 6-3.

USC got their final three runs of the game in the seventh inning. Bryant Bowen walked to lead off, and Wes Clarke went yard with two outs to make the score 8-3. Wimmer made it to first on another Crusaders error, then Burgess doubled to get him home and give the Gamecocks a 9-3 lead. Holy Cross got one more run in the eighth inning, thanks to a leadoff bomb from Cam Meyer. They made things interesting in both the eighth and ninth innings by loading the bases, the South Carolina’s pitching staff managed to get out of both jams.

Starter Brett Kerry had a couple of shaky moments but overall had a strong showing, working five innings and giving up five hits and three runs. He didn’t walk any batters and struck out 12. Cam Tringali, Parker Coyne, Julian Bosnic, and Daniel Lloyd combined to go the rest of the way for the Gamecocks. Kerry got the win and is now 1-0, while Lloyd got the save, his first of the season.

South Carolina improves to 2-0 on the season, while Holy Cross drops to 0-2. The Gamecocks will go for the sweep on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for noon at Founders Park. Brannon Jordan is set to start on the mound for Carolina.