Messina's go-ahead homer powers South Carolina into winner's bracket for first time since 2004

After this week is over, there’s probably going to be a lot more moose crossing signs placed around Hoover, Alabama.

Why? Because of all the damage Cole Messina, nicknamed “Moose,” has done so far at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

For the second straight day, the junior catcher had another big game on Wednesday, leading South Carolina to a 6-5 win over Arkansas in the second round of the SEC Tournament.

“Well, we score a lot more runs when he’s hitting, that’s clear. I’m pretty sure if you dug into the stats on the days he has big games, I bet we probably win 90 percent of the time,” head coach Mark Kingston said. “When he doesn’t, it’s obviously not that high. But he’s the heart and soul of our team. And when the heart and soul of your team is playing that well, it just allows everybody else to kind of follow suit.”

With the win, South Carolina (35-21, 15-17 SEC) is in the winner’s bracket for the first time in 20 years. The last time the Gamecocks were in this position, they won the tournament with four straight wins back in 2004.

This also marks the first time the program has won two games in Hoover under Kingston.

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Locked into a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning, Blake Jackson was hit by a pitch to leadoff the frame. This was a very similar spot. Back in the fifth, Jackson was plunked, which led to a Messina two-run homer two pitches later.

“I knew (Gabe Gaeckle) had a good fastball and be ready for a good fastball,” Messina said. “I sold out for the fastball, and he ended up throwing a slider, and just took my best swing. Didn’t really think I was going to hit a slider, but it happened, and took a good swing, and the ball got out of here.”

And just like before, he did it again. Messina crushed another two-run bomb, almost to the same exact spot he hit his first homer of the day. Only this one was much more important. It gave the Gamecocks a 6-4 lead after blowing their earlier lead in the seventh.

As Messina rounded the bases, the South Carolina dugout exploded in excitement.

“I mean, it means the world. It’s a moment I’ll remember forever,” Messina said. “These are my guys. These are people I would kill somebody over — well, that’s a bad way to put it. I would take a bullet for. I love them, love them to death. It meant the world to me, and keep building.”

The situation worked out perfectly for South Carolina. Back in the seventh, Kingston made his intentions clear as day. He was going for the win. And why shouldn’t he? The implications were huge.

So when he brought in Garrett Gainey out of relief in the seventh inning, he was willing to take the risk of potentially not having a starting pitcher in line for Thursday. But this is the postseason, where each game counts just a little extra.

He’d come into an appropriate situation that made sense if he weren’t going to start. After Ty Good put two on with no outs in a 4-2 game, Gainey would be tasked with working out of trouble.

“I pretty much knew I was getting the ball today,” Gainey said. “I knew we were going to have a good chance to win, especially taking an early lead and taking that lead 4-2. I think it was the sixth inning. Especially late in the game like that, I knew I could get the ball.”

And to some extent, he did. Arkansas would tie the game with both runs being charged to Good. But the left-hander kept some hope alive for the Gamecocks.

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After Gainey retired the side in order in the eighth, he came back out for the ninth with a chance to nail down a massive save. But it wouldn’t be easy for him. He would retire the first batter in the frame but allowed two straight singles to bring the potential winning run to the plate.

The Razorbacks inched closer with an RBI single off the bat of Ben McLaughlin to make it a one-run game. One batter later, Wehiwa Aloy grounded into what looked like a double play ball. But because he hustled down the line, he beat out the throw to first to keep the game alive.

Now with runners on the corners and two outs, Gainey got a fly out to center to seal the deal and give South Carolina a massive win.

“Once we went out there in the ninth inning with the two-run lead, we decided we’re going to ride or die here,” Kingston said. “He’s earned that right. He’s been one of our best guys. And we’ve talked about it, he didn’t get that last out in Tennessee last week, but there’s certain guys you’re willing to ride or die with, and he’s one of them. We were going to win or lose in the ninth inning with him on the mound. There was no reason to get anybody else up.”

Up next: South Carolina will advance into the winner’s bracket to face former Gamecock Michael Braswell and a red-hot LSU team on Thursday. First pitch is approximately at 5:30 p.m. on SEC Network. The Gamecocks have yet to name a starting pitcher.

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