:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68851888/10267818.0.jpg)
After two days of high offensive output, the pendulum swung the other way for the Gamecocks on Sunday, but they still managed to come away with a sweep over Dayton.
Both teams were scoreless until the third inning, when South Carolina took a 1-0 lead. With one out, Brady Allen reached on an error, then Braylen Wimmer and Wes Clarke walked to load the bases. Unfortunately the Gamecocks only got the one run out of the situation, and it came on a sac fly by David Mendham. The Flyers tied things up in the next inning, after they also loaded the bases and Jared Howell singled.
Despite both squads having multiple scoring chances, the tie held until the eighth inning, when USC was finally able to capitalize. Colin Burgess walked to start things off, advanced on a Jeff Heinrich sac bunt, and scored on a double from George Callil to put the home team up 2-1. Then with two outs, Noah Meyers and Clarke both walked, and Mendham came through again, this time with a bases-clearing triple.
Gamecocks starter Julian Bostic got off to a hot start and set the school record for strikeouts in a row with eight, which he accomplished in the third inning. Things took a turn after that, though, and he ended up only working a total of 3.1 innings, allowing no hits and one run while walking four batters and striking out nine. Daniel Lloyd, Travis Luensmann, and Brett Kerry combined to go the rest of the way for South Carolina, and Kerry got the win, making him 1-0. Dayton reliever Andrew Zabka took the loss and is 0-1. Mendham, Burgess and Callil all had two hits in the game, and Mendham tallied all of the days RBI.
With the sweep, the Gamecocks are now 3-0 on the season while the Flyers are 0-3. USC will be back in action on Tuesday, when they take on Winthrop. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. in Columbia.