The South Carolina baseball team earned a 4-3 win over the College of Charleston on Tuesday night at Segra Park.
The Gamecocks (17-5, 1-2 SEC) trailed by two runs in the seventh inning but came from behind to take the lead after costly walks by the Cougars' pitching.
The Gamecocks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after back-to-back hits by junior fielder Ethan Petry and freshman infielder KJ Scobey. Petry hit a double, and then Scobey hit a single that scored Petry.
The Cougars responded in the second inning when junior first baseman Payton Frehner doubled, followed by an RBI double from graduate outfielder Will Baumhofer, tying the game. The inning ended when Baumhofer was thrown out at home plate by senior outfielder Evan Stone.
Junior pitcher Jarvis Evans Jr. started for the Gamecocks on the mound, giving up one run on five hits. Evans Jr. also struck out five batters and walked two.
"What can you say about Jarvis Evans (Jr.)?" head coach Paul Mainieri said. "He gave us a chance again like he's done every week. He was just tremendous."
Freshman pitcher Zach Russell relieved Evans in the seventh but failed to get an out in the inning. Redshirt junior infielder Ethan Plyler singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Russell.
After sophomore pitcher Aydin Palmer entered, sophomore utility player Schley Gordy hit a two-RBI single that gave the Cougars a 3-1 lead. Freshman pitcher Ryder Garino got the Gamecocks out of the inning with three consecutive strikeouts.
The Gamecocks answered in the seventh with three runs on two hits. Junior outfielder Nathan Hall and Stone both singled, followed by a walk by Petry. Senior outfielders Kennedy Jones and Dalton Mashore each walked with the bases loaded, scoring two runs. Junior pitcher Logan Thomas then balked, which advanced the runners and added another run. South Carolina led 4-3 after the seventh.
"We showed a lot of discipline at the plate," Mainieri said. "The kid, he was pretty wild, but I'm not one for walking a lot. I like to teach guys to hit, but if they're going to give it to you, you have to take it."
The Cougars threatened to tie the game in the eighth when Plyler doubled for his third hit of the night. Baumhofer then hit an infield single that advanced Plyler to third, but sophomore pitcher Parker Marlatt ended the inning with a strikeout. Marlatt clinched the game in the ninth with three straight outs, including a strikeout to end the game.
Gamecocks leave runners on base
The Cougars outhit South Carolina 10-7 on Tuesday night, and the Gamecocks left nine runners on base. Stone went 2-4, while Petry went 1-2 with a double and two walks.
"We hit several balls pretty hard but just right at people," Mainieri said. "We were having a little bit of misfortune and couldn't get more runs. We had one clutch hit early in the game, didn't really get one after that."
Evans Jr. makes another strong start
Evans Jr. made his fourth midweek start of the season on Tuesday night. Evans gave up three doubles but picked off two runners and assisted on a double play. He also retired the Cougars in order twice.
"Today's Tuesday, so we could potentially use him on Sunday this week in the series," Mainieri said. "I'm not saying we will, (pitching coach) Terry (Rooney) and I will discuss it at length before this weekend."
Evans Jr., a Georgia transfer, has a 3.09 ERA this season. He has struck out 24 batters and walked five in 23.1 innings.
Tough slate ahead
South Carolina bounced back on Tuesday after a difficult series loss against No. 12 Oklahoma. The Gamecocks held a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Sunday's rubber match, but were unable to finish the job and dropped the series. Mainieri said his team is confident despite the setback.
"The confidence of the team is good," Mainieri said. "You've just got to be able to put it behind you, those negative things that happen, adversity that happens, because there's no do-overs."
The Gamecocks will now face seven straight top 25 opponents, with the next four games being away from Founders Park.
"You like to win these close ones in the middle of the week because the weekend is going to be an unbelievable challenge, playing one of the top teams in the country," Mainieri said.
What's next?
South Carolina returns to conference play this weekend when it travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to face No. 3 Arkansas (19-2, 2-1 SEC) for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.