Baseball Falls to Georgia Sunday Afternoon

COLUMBIA – No. 14 Georgia defeated the University of South Carolina baseball team 13-8, Sunday afternoon (April 10) to close out a three-game series at Founders Park.
 
The Bulldogs got off to a hot start with RBI singles from Connor Tate and Parks Harber, followed by a three-run home run from Chaney Rogers to give Georgia a 5-0 lead out of the gate.
 
Georgia added three more runs to its lead in the fourth. Carolina responded in the bottom half with three straight singles from Talmadge LeCroy, Braylen Wimmer, and Andrew Eyster. Kevin Madden drove in the Gamecocks first run on an RBI fielder’s choice. The Gamecocks continued to chip away in the fifth started by a leadoff double from Michael Braswell, followed by a Brandt Belk single which extended his hit streak to 20 games. Braylen Wimmer singled to right driving in Carolina’s second run, followed by Belk scoring on a wild pitch and Eyster tacking on another with an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to four.
 
Georgia responded by plating four in the sixth with a pair of two RBI singles from Josh McAllister and Rogers. Carolina delivered with four of their own with a Braswell sacrifice fly plating Colin Burgess, who drew a leadoff walk. Belk blasted a three-run home run, his fifth of the season, making the score 12-8. Georgia tacked on one more run in the seventh with a two out solo shot off the bat of Corey Collins. The Gamecocks were only able to add one more run in the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run from Eyster.
 
Aidan Hunter was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs in three innings while striking out two. Brett Thomas pitched well for the Gamecocks in relief, striking out four in two innings. Cam Tringali struck out a pair in the eighth and CJ Weins pitched a scoreless ninth.
 
Belk and Eyster had three hits each to lead the Gamecocks at the plate.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Josiah Sightler picked up his third outfield assist on the weekend in the third inning.
• Brandt Belk extended his hitting streak to 20 games after his single in the fifth.
• The top four players in the lineup (Belk, LeCroy, Wimmer and Eyster) had nine hits and six RBI.

UP NEXT
Carolina continues its homestand on Tuesday night (April 12) against North Florida. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. The game will be on SEC Network Plus.