South Carolina baseball comes back to beat App State in midweek matchup

After a slow start, the South Carolina baseball team was able to beat App State 9-6 in Charlotte for its tune-up before Clemson this weekend.

It wasn’t easy, falling behind 6-1 early, but the Gamecocks (7-1) found a way to get another come from behind win in the early goings of the year.

“I use the word resilient with this team. We’re gonna have to be resilient with what we’re going through right now,” Kingston said. “We’re gonna need a lot of team efforts, a lot of guys to step up. I thought we got that tonight.”

After CJ Weins walked three out of the first five batters, App State opened the score up early with a grand slam from left fielder Hunter Bryson.

With the exception of the homer, Weins pitched relatively well, though he was responsible for five earned runs. He ended the game after three innings, striking out five, walking three and giving up two hits.

App State’s fifth run off Weins came in the third after a sac fly.

South Carolina’s offense struggled early. The Gamecocks were unable to put a run on the scoreboard until the fourth inning.

Braylen Wimmer singled and a double from Andrew Eyster brought him in for the first run of the day for South Carolina.

After Eyster’s at bat the Gamecocks were able to load the bases up with Kevin Madden and Cole Messina drawing walks. Unfortunately nothing came out of it, with Josiah Sightler and Matt Hogan both striking out to end the inning.

John Gilreath relieved Weins in the fourth and gave up one run in his first inning of work, making the score 6-1.

Gilreath would rebound though, pitching two and two third innings and not giving up any more runs. He finished the game with four strikeouts.

In the fifth inning, South Carolina found themselves in another bases loaded situation and were finally able to capitalize.

A single from Wimmer brought home two runners to cut the App State lead to three runs. In the next at bat Andrew Eyster brought home Braswell and Wimmer to make the score 6-5 in favor of App State. Eyster was able to tie the game up at six after he scored on a wild pitch.

Kingston praised Wimmer, who went 2-3, after the game for the way he’s improved already this season.

“He’s done a nice job this year, improving his two strike approach, and he’s playing so hard,” Kingston said. “It’s so good to see how hard he’s playing, and he’s getting rewarded for that.”

The Gamecocks got their first lead of the night in the seventh inning thanks to a wild pitch that scored Braswell. Valincius helped extend the lead later in the inning when he singled through the left side and brought Madden home, making the score 8-6.

After the game, Kingston said the energy of the dugout helped carry the team through the game.

“This team has shown that they’re going to keep fighting, they’re going to keep getting good at bats and we’re not going to panic in the dugout,” Kingston said. “We’re going to stay calm and just hope the game comes back to us.”

Aidan Hunter was tasked with protecting the lead for the Gamecocks and he did just that. In his one and a third innings pitched he struck out a batter and gave up only one hit. Hunter was awarded the win, his second of the season.

South Carolina found themselves with the bases loaded offensively again in the top of the eighth. This time Eyster drew a walk that scored Carson Hornung.

Parker Coyne continued the solid bullpen work after Hunter exited. He struck out four batters and didn’t give up a hit in his inning of work.

Braswell came in and secured the win for the Gamecocks, recording his second save of the season.