Late Rally Lifts Baseball to Series Win at Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo.  – The University of South Carolina baseball team plated eight runs in the final three innings of play as the Gamecocks defeated Missouri, 9-4, Sunday afternoon (May 5) at Taylor Stadium. The Gamecocks picked up a series win for the first time in Missouri since 2013.

Carolina scored the first run on a strikeout-wild pitch in the second, but Missouri answered with four runs in the bottom of the second, two off of a Danny Corona home run. Austin Brinling saved a grand slam with a catch over the wall at center to keep it at 4-1.

The score remained at 4-1 until the seventh. Dalton Reeves started the inning with a solo home run to right. Ethan Petry then tied it with a two-run home run to straightaway center field. In the eighth, Reeves reached on a bunt single that Blake Jackson scored on a throwing error. Gavin Casas singled home Kennedy Jones to make it 6-4 and Austin Brinling’s sacrifice fly to left gave the Gamecocks a 7-4 lead.

Cole Messina homered to lead off the ninth. Carolina added insurance with a Talmadge LeCroy RBI single.

Messina and Jackson had three hits apiece to lead the Gamecock offense while Reeves and Casas had two hits.

Connor McCreery earned the win in relief, striking out four in 2.2 innings. Chris Veach picked up his third save with a pair of punchouts in 1.1 innings. Garrett Gainey had five strikeouts in his 3.2 inning performance. The Gamecock staff allowed just four hits in the win.

POSTGAME NOTES

• The Gamecocks are now 13-11 in SEC play this season, tied with Georgia for third in the East.
• Messina was 7-for-11 with four runs scored, two doubles, a triple, two home runs and seven RBI on the weekend.
• Petry now has 41 career home runs, which is tied for ninth on Carolina’s career home run list.

UP NEXT
Carolina visits Rock Hill, S.C., for a Tuesday night (May 7) tilt with Winthrop. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Winthrop Ballpark.