COLUMBIA, S.C. — It was a typical Opening Day at Founders Park as the Gamecocks were on the field for the first time in 2024
Fans filed in an hour before the 4:00 p.m. first pitch and the players had plenty of smiles as they went through their pre-game warmups.
But there was a somber tone to the day as the memory of Tommy Moody was honored. The former South Carolina infielder spent more than 20 years in the broadcast booth as a baseball analyst for the Gamecock Sports Network.
Tommy's daughters were on the field for the ceremony with Kasey Moody throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Tommy's memory will be a constant in the program this season as the helmets will feature a sticker honoring their biggest supporter and underneath the broadcast booth at Founders Park is a banner with Tommy's name above a microphone.
No doubt Tommy was watching from above as Carolina opened 2024 with a 5-1 victory over Miami of Ohio.
The 12th-ranked Gamecocks scored all of their runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Cole Messina led off the inning with a double to right. He scored on Talmadge LeCroy’s single to right center. A walk to Gavin Casas was followed by Tyler Causey’s RBI single. Dylan Brewer drove in a run with a long single and Will Tippett reached on a bunt single with a throwing error, scoring Casas. Blake Jackson ended the scoring with an RBI groundout to the pitcher.
Eli Jones picked up the win as he struck out five and allowed three hits and a first-inning run. Garrett Gainey earned his first save as a Gamecock, striking out a batter in two-thirds of an inning.