South Carolina vs. Mississippi State game 1 recap: Gamecocks blanked by Bulldogs 9-0

The streak absolutely no one asked for continued on Friday night, as South Carolina lost another SEC series opener, this time getting shut out by Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Kamren James knocked a single and Luke Hancock grounded into a double play. That score held until the fifth, when MSU added another run on a Tanner Allen single to make it 3-0. They broke things wide open in the seventh, scoring five more runs courtesy of a pair of doubles by James and Brad Cumbest and a passed ball that made the score 8-0. The final run of the game came in the eighth inning on another base hit by Allen.

USC starter Brannon Jordan worked six innings and allowed three hits and three runs, walked two batters and struck four out. He took the loss and is now 4-4. Magdiel Cotto, John Gilreath, and CJ Weins combined to go the rest of the way for the Cocks. The pitching staff tallied six (!!!!) wild pitches tonight, which was both uncharacteristic and very bad. Bulldogs starter Christian MacLeod got the win and is now 4-3. David Mendham, Brennan Milone, and Noah Myers were the only Carolina players to tally a hit, though George Callil also had several good at-bats but was robbed.

The Gamecocks are now 27-16 overall and 11-11 in conference play, while Mississippi State improves to 34-10 overall and 15-7 in the SEC. South Carolina will try to even up the series on Saturday, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. at Founders Park. Will Sanders will start on the mound for the home team.