The South Carolina baseball team continued its undefeated start to the season in a pair of midweek games Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
The Gamecocks started the week's games with a 5-3 road win against the Winthrop Eagles. South Carolina then returned home to Founders Park where it picked up a 7-2 win over the Queens R
oyals.
Here is a recap of the two midweek games.
Gamecocks earn first road win of 2025 campaign against Winthrop
The Gamecocks defeated the Eagles in its first road matchup of the season 5-3 to keep its perfect record in the 2025 season.
Junior outfielder Nathan Hall and junior fielder Jase Woita led South Carolina’s attack with an RBI. Woita also went 2-4 at the plate. Junior pitcher Jarvis Evans Jr. helped keep Winthrop’s top hitters in check but was relieved in the third inning.
The Gamecocks wasted no time scoring in the first inning. After junior infielder Henry Kaczmar singled and stole second, senior outfielder Kennedy Jones launched a two-run homer, giving the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead. Winthrop quickly responded in its half of the inning when redshirt senior outfielder Koby Kropf hit a two-run home run, tying the game.
In the fourth inning, sophomore pitcher Brandon Stone was put into the game. Despite giving up a run that gave the Eagles the lead, he was able to limit the damage and collect his first two strikeouts at the collegiate level as Winthrop would leave two runners on base. He would pitch for another two innings and was able to earn the win — the first of his career in South Carolina.
Trailing 3-2, South Carolina's offense struggled until senior catcher Talmadge LeCroy delivered a two-run double, putting the Gamecocks ahead 4-3, following singles from junior fielder Ethan Petry and Jones.
The Gamecocks added another run in the sixth, after freshman infielder KJ Scobey drew a walk and had Hall send him home after an RBI double to right field to lead the game 5-3.
South Carolina baseball wins second straight midweek game 7-2 against Queens
The South Carolina Gamecocks won its fifth game of the season to Queens University 7-2 on Feb. 19, while much of the game was played through rain.
“I’m certainly convinced that no matter what is thrown our way this year, with regards to conditions, we’ll be ready to handle it," head coach Paul Mainieri said. "I thought they handled it tremendously tonight.”
The Gamecocks started early in the bottom of the first with a double from junior outfielder Nathan Hall. Junior infielder Ethan Petry helped the Gamecocks strike first with an RBI single to send Hall home for an early 1-0 lead.
South Carolina capitalized on another opportunity at the bottom of the sixth following a double by senior outfielder Kennedy Jones. Bases were loaded following sophomore catcher Ryan Bakes and senior designated hitter Talmadge LeCroy’s at bats, bringing up junior infielder Henry Kaczmar. Kaczmar and freshman infielder KJ Scobey had hits to bring the Gamecocks up 3-0 after six innings.
The Royals had their first big opportunity late in the game at the top of the eighth inning. The Gamecock pitching staff gave up a hit-by-pitch and two walks to load the bases with two outs. Junior designated hitter Justin Hudson had the two RBI single to bring the Royals down one going into the bottom of the eighth.
An RBI single by Hall in the eighth inning gave the Gamecocks their first insurance run before adding three more runs in the inning, one on a balk, error and another on a Petry RBI single.
Junior pitcher Jackson Soucie made his first appearance for the Gamecocks, finishing his outing with two strikeouts and one hit in his three innings of work.
Freshman pitcher Ryder Garino made his second relief appearance of the season in the fourth inning, helping limit the Royals' offense. Garino had another solid outing with five strikeouts and one hit in three innings.
The pitching staff for South Carolina ended the night with ten strikeouts, four walks and two hits.
“We’ve got a lot of really competitive pitchers, and I think Terry’s done a phenomenal job with all of them,” Mainieri said.
What’s next?
The Gamecocks (5-0) host the Milwaukee Panthers (1-2) for the first of three games starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. The game will stream on SEC Network+.