South Carolina at Texas game 3 recap: Gamecocks swept by Longhorns in 8-5 loss

It was another game of missed opportunities for South Carolina on Sunday, and that, combined with some pitching struggles and sloppy defense, resulted in a loss and the first sweep of the Gamecocks this season.

Texas took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Zach Zubia RBI single, but that lead was short-lived, as USC tied the game in the next inning. Andrew Eyster got hit by a pitch to start things off, Braylen Wimmer singled, and George Callil knocked a base hit with two outs to load the bases before a wild pitch brought in the tying run. The Longhorns answered in the bottom of the inning, going up 2-1 on a sac fly from Mitchell Daly. The Gamecocks again responded though, with a solo shot from Wes Clarke tying the game in the third.

Unfortunately, things took a turn after that. Texas scored two runs in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Ivan Melendez and a Cam Williams RBI single, giving them a 4-2 lead. They tacked on four more runs in the next inning, courtesy of a sac fly from Zubia, a DJ Petrinsky two-run double, and an RBI single by Trey Faltine, which put the Longhorns up 8-2.

Carolina got one run back in the fifth inning when Wimmer scored on a wild pitch to make the score 8-3, then the final two runs of the game came in the ninth. Clarke walked to lead off, Josiah Sightler singled, Wimmer came through with a one-out RBI base hit to make it an 8-4 game, and Connor Cino provided a pinch-hit RBI single.

USC starter Julian Bosnic had a bit of a rough outing, pitching three innings and giving up four hits and six runs, while walking four batters and striking three out. He took the loss and drops to 1-1. Andrew Peters, Will Sanders, Wesley Sweatt, Sightler, and Brett Kerry also took the mound in this game. Longhorns reliever Tanner Witt earned the win and is now 2-0. Wimmer led the Cocks at the plate with four hits, and he, Clarke, and Cino each tallied an RBI.

South Carolina is now 11-3 on the season, while Texas is 11-5. The Gamecocks will be back in action on Tuesday, when they host Davidson. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Columbia.