COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team swept a doubleheader with Vanderbilt, winning the first game 8-4 followed by an 8-3 win in game two in the SEC home opener Saturday afternoon (March 23) at Founders Park.
Eli Jones was perfect through six innings and Carolina had a 2-0 lead after RBI’s from Kennedy Jones and Ethan Petry in the third. Vanderbilt scored a pair of runs in the seventh, but Carolina answered back with five runs in the bottom of the frame. With the bases loaded, Petry hit a ball to deep center that the Commodore centerfielder dropped, leading to three runs. Cole Messina and Talmadge LeCroy each had run scoring singles in that frame.
Jones allowed just one hit in 6.1 innings, striking out four and allowing two runs with a walk. Chris Veach earned the win, striking out two in 2.1 innings while Garrett Gainey picked up his fourth save by getting the last batter of the game.
Petry homered in the second inning of game two but Vandy put up single runs in the second, third and fourth to take a 3-1 lead. A big 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the fifth was followed by a 4-run bottom of the fifth as Blake Jackson doubled in a run and Messina hit a two-run home run to give Carolina a 5-3 lead. Petry homered again in the sixth and two batters later, Tyler Causey homered to left field. Petry ended the scoring in the seventh with an RBI single to right.
Petry was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in the nightcap while Messina drove in a pair. Ty Good earned the win on the mound, striking out three in 2.2 innings. Gainey picked up his second save of the day, striking out four in 2.1 hitless innings of relief.
