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The regular season came to a close in tough fashion on Saturday afternoon, as South Carolina rallied against Tennessee but couldn’t quite do enough for a win.
The Gamecocks got on the board first, when Brady Allen blasted a solo shot to open the first inning and give them a 1-0 lead. The Volunteers responded in the next inning, tying the game at 1-1 thanks to an RBI single from Pete Derkay. UT then took the lead in the fourth on a Jordan Beck RBI double and a homer by Connor Pavolony, making it a 5-1 game.
That score held until USC made things interesting in the eighth. Allen and Andrew Eyster both singled to start things off, then Wes Clarke brought home a run with a double to make it 5-2. Josiah Sightler followed with an RBI single to make the score 5-3, and David Mendham grounded out to bring in the final run of the game.
Carolina starter Thomas Farr pitched five innings and allowed seven hits and five runs, walked one batter, and struck seven out. He took the loss and drops to 3-6. Will Sanders and Daniel Lloyd combined to go the rest of the way for the Cocks. Vols starter Blade Tidwell got the win and is now 7-3, while Sean Hunley earned the save, his seventh. Allen led USC at the plate with three hits, while he, Clarke, Sightler, and Mendham each recorded an RBI.
The Gamecocks finish the regular season with a record of 33-20 overall and 16-14 in conference play, while Tennessee finishes with a record of 42-14 overall and 20-10 in the SEC. Both teams will be headed to the SEC Tournament, where South Carolina will be the seventh seed.