Baseball Takes SEC Opener with Ninth-Inning Rally

ATHENS  – Michael Braswell’s two-run double in the top of the ninth inning propelled the University of South Carolina baseball team to a 5-4 win over Georgia Saturday afternoon (March 18) in game one of a doubleheader at Foley Field.

Carolina had a 3-1 lead after home runs from Cole Messina and Ethan Petry and an RBI double by Will McGillis, but Georgia bounced back and took a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning after a Mason LaPlante sacrifice fly.

The top of the ninth started with a hit by pitch to Talmadge LeCroy. Caleb Denny moved him over on a sacrifice bunt. McGillis walked, setting up Braswell’s pinch-hit heroics.

Chris Veach earned his first win as a Gamecocks, pitching a scoreless eighth inning with a hit, a walk and a strikeout. James Hicks picked up his second save of the year, getting Connor Tate to ground out to end the contest. Will Sanders struck out six, allowing seven hits and four runs in seven innings.

McGillis had two hits to lead Carolina’s offense.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Carolina wins the SEC opener for the first time since 2017.
• Messina now has nine home runs on the season after his second inning shot. His also has a team-best 29 RBI.
• Hicks lowered his ERA to 0.98 after earning his second save.
• The Gamecocks are now 2-1 on the road this season.
• The 18-1 start matches the 2014 start at 18-1.

UP NEXT
Carolina and Georgia will play game two of the doubleheader Saturday, March 18 at 5:30 p.m.