Big Fourth Frame Lifts Baseball to Midweek Win over USC Upstate
GREENVILLE – The University of South Carolina baseball team used a nine-run fourth inning to defeat USC Upstate, 14-8, on Tuesday night (March 19) in Fluor Field.
The Gamecocks sent 13 men to the plate, using triples from Kennedy Jones and Blake Jackson along with Ethan Petry’s eighth home run of the year to take a 10-2 lead after three-and-a-half frames. Carolina used three Upstate errors while stealing four bases in the inning.
Carolina opened the scoring with Cole Messina’s eighth home run of the year in the top of the first. USC Upstate came back with two runs in the bottom of the first frame, but Carolina answered as Parker Noland’s single to left brought in a pair.
Blake Jackson homered in the eighth, his first home run as a Gamecock.
Upstate scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Chris Veach stemmed the tide, getting the Gamecocks out of the sixth inning jam, then pitching scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth. Garrett Gainey struck out two in the ninth to preserve the win.
Messina was 4-for-5 with two doubles and a home run. Jackson drove in three, while Petry, Noland, Jackson and Evan Stone had two hits apiece.
Tyler Pitzer earned the win in relief, striking out two in two hitless innings.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Petry now has 31 career home runs, which is tied for 20th in Carolina history.
- Messina tied a career high with four hits. He also had four against USC Upstate on March 8, 2023.
- The Gamecocks have scored 33 runs in the last two games against USC Upstate in Greenville.
UP NEXT
Carolina hosts Vanderbilt for a three-game series starting Friday night (March 22) at Founders Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.
