In photos: South Carolina wins classic over NC State
South Carolina is back in a regional final for the first time since 2018.
The Gamecocks picked up a 6-3 win Saturday night against NC State thanks to some timely offense but elite pitching and defense from start to finish.
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GamecockCentral was on hand providing coverage and photos, and here are some of the best from the big win at Founders Park.
Photos by GamecockCentral photographer Brodie Perry.
Pitching, defense carry South Carolina to regional final
by Collyn Taylor
Gavin Casas knew to expect it with a left-handed hitter up. The South Carolina first baseman–who maintains he saw the ball rocketed at him by Cannon Peebles–was able to anticipate and glove the hard-hit ground ball.
As he stepped on the bag and fired to second to gun out Gino Groover for yet another massive double play to preserve a three-run Gamecocks lead, he flexed and let out a guttural yell as the crowd swelled behind him.
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That was just one of a handful of elite defensive plays South Carolina made as it pitched and defended itself to a massive 6-3 win over NC State Saturday night.
“Oh, yeah. I definitely saw it,” Casas said, laughing. “You’re kind of expecting a snap-hook line drive. Luckily it was to the backhand and I caught it and threw it to second. The emotion came out from there.”
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South Carolina (41-19) advances to a regional final for the first time since 2018, now one win away from a Super Regional thanks to that defense and an electric start from Jack Mahoney.
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After pitching around trouble in the first inning, Mahoney would allow just one base runner over the next four innings while South Carolina’s offense built a six-run lead before hitting trouble in the sixth.
He looked unhittable for long stretches, retiring 14 of 15 hitters and erasing that lone base runner–a leadoff single in the fourth–with a double play.
“I think Jack’s a talented guy and very competitive and rises to the occasion. I would agree they battled hard. That’s a good ballclub,” Mark Kingston said. “It was two really good offenses, two really good pitchers that started the game and good, old fashioned baseball.”
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He motored through the first two outs with ease before allowing four straight hits–including a two-run double–as part of a three-run Wolfpack inning.
Those were the only runs he allowed, striking out six and allowing seven hits over six innings with no walks.
