Two-Out Magic Lifts Baseball Past Winthrop

ROCK HILL – The University of South Carolina baseball team scored all of its runs with two outs as the Gamecocks picked up their first win in the midweek by a 5-3 count over Winthrop Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 18) at Founders Field.

The two teams traded two-run home runs in the first. Kennedy Jones belted his first of the year, a shot to left. Koby Kropf then answered in the bottom of the frame, also to left field. Winthrop took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on an RBI fielder’s choice but Talmadge LeCroy’s double to left scored a pair to put the Gamecocks back on top, 4-3.

Nathan Hall gave the Gamecocks a two-run advantage in the sixth as his RBI double scored KJ Scobey.

Brandon Stone picked up the win in relief for Carolina, striking out three and allowing just one hit with no runs in 3.2 innings. Parker Marlatt pitched a perfect eighth frame and Brendan Sweeney earned his second save with a scoreless ninth. Jarvis Evans struck out five and allowed five hits and three runs with no walks in a 3.1-inning start.

Jones and Jase Woita had two hits apiece while Jones going LeCroy with two RBI. Eight of the nine Gamecock hitters had at least one hit in the win.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Jones now has seven RBI in his career against Winthrop.
• Head Coach Paul Mainieri picked up his 1,509th career win, vaulting him into sixth place by himself on the all-time coaching wins list.
• Carolina now has won the last 13 games against the Eagles.
• The Gamecocks struck out nine while not allowing a walk in the win.

UP NEXT
Carolina hosts Queens Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 19) at 4 p.m., at Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park. The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.