South Carolina baseball completes sweep of George Washington in Saturday double header

The Gamecocks secured their first sweep of the season against George Washington on Saturday. The teams played a double header after the Sunday game was pushed up due to inclement weather. 

Michael Braswell shined in both games, going a combined 4-for-7 from the plate and recording a save in game one, a 10-6 win. 

“It’s been a dream of mine for a minute to be able to, especially as a freshman, have an impact on this team in a positive way,” Braswell said. “Just the fact that I performed that well and you know, pitched that well I really loved it and it was just a blessing for me because I was able to help my team.”

After giving up six runs in game two, South Carolina pitchers threw a combined shutout in game three. 

Game 2: South Carolina 10, George Washington 6

South Carolina started its first game off with a bang in the first inning. Freshman Michael Braswell started the Gamecocks off with a frozen rope down the third baseline for a double. Braylen Wimmer brought him home on a ground out. 

The ensuing at bat saw Andrew Eyster hit a solo home run into the George Washington bullpen, setting up an early 2-0 lead for USC. 

South Carolina kept the offensive momentum going into the next inning. A single and three walks led to another run for the Gamecocks, giving them a 3-0 lead. 

James Hicks started the game but left in the middle of the third due to injury. 

The junior appeared to be fine but was taken out of the game with what Kingston said was “general arm soreness.” 

“He’ll be evaluated tomorrow and we’ll just kind of take it from there,” Kingston said. “You know, we’re hopeful that it’s not anything serious, so we’ll find out shortly.”

Hicks finished the game with 2.2 innings pitched, two strikeouts and a walk. 

Wesley Sweatt replaced Hicks on the mound and continued to keep the Colonials offense quiet. Sweatt was awarded the win for his efforts. 

Sweatt threw the next 3.1 innings, recording two strikeouts but giving up George Washington’s only two runs of the day in the sixth inning. 

South Carolina matched the two runs with four of its own in the bottom of the sixth. Three singles from Cole Messina, Braswell and Kevin Madden drove in the runs. 

Both teams went scoreless in the seventh before scoring three runs each in the eighth inning, making the score 10-5 in favor of USC. 

The Colonials scored their three off of one swing, a three run homer from second baseman Noah Levin. The home run was his only hit of the game.

South Carolina got its three runs that inning from a pinch hit single by Connor Cino that brought in two runners. In the next at bat Colin Burgess brought home Madden on a sac bunt.

After Noah Hall gave up a run and two hits in the ninth, Braswell moved to the mound to close out the game. 

Braswell proceeded to strike out the final two batters of the game, adding a save to an already excellent game one performance. 

Game 3: South Carolina 5, George Washington 0

Any double header fatigue that might’ve been present seemed to hit both teams in game two. 

“We play a lot of games and to have two in one day, you know, it’s something we’re not used to but we’ve done it before and we’re gonna; I imagine at some point we’ll probably do it again,” Eyster said. “It’s something you just got to battle through.”

Only five hits were tallied between the two teams in the first three innings of the game. 

South Carolina had multiple opportunities to score early but was squandered by the Colonials defense. Braswell himself was thrown at twice at home in the first three innings. 

Cade Austin got the start in game two and finished with two innings pitched and two strikeouts.

The Gamecocks scored their first runs of the game in the fourth inning. A double from Talmadge Lecroy scored Madden. Next at bat, Matt Hogan hit a sac fly that brought home Carson Hornung.

South Carolina scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, making its lead 4-0. 

This time it was Wimmer who doubled and brought Braswell home. Wimmer scored two batters later after Belk hit a sac fly into center. 

South Carolina’s bullpen kept the Colonials at bay throughout the game. Aidan Hunter, Matthew Becker and John Gilreath combined for seven innings pitched in the game. They all struck out nine batters and gave up zero runs. 

Eyster praised the bullpen after the game.

“I saw a lot of guys that were ready to come out and make an impact. You know, no one no one looked like they weren’t ready for that moment,” Eyster said.  “Everyone came out and was pounding the strike zone and doing what they needed to do. You know, when we got, got some arms down right now and so we really need to rely on all the healthy guys to be able to come out and do that whenever they’re called on.”

Belk helped South Carolina get another insurance run in the seventh inning when he brought home Wimmer with a single. 

Gilreath shut the Colonials out for the last two innings of the game, securing the series sweep for the Gamecocks. 

Up next

South Carolina will look to App State on Tuesday, March 1. The game is in Charlotte, NC and first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.