South Carolina grabs much-needed midweek win over The Citadel

After dropping a tough, emotional series to Clemson over the weekend, South Carolina needed to bounce back quickly. And what better way to do so than with a pick-me-up midweek game?

Combined with good pitching, the No. 21 Gamecocks scored early to win 7-1 over The Citadel on Tuesday night at Founders Park. The win snaps a two-game losing skid.

“Just thought it was a good bounce back game for us, exactly what we needed,” head coach Mark Kingston said.

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In their first trip up to the plate, the Gamecocks (9-3) wasted no time bringing home some runs. After two walks to start, Ethan Petry ripped an RBI single into left for the first run of the night. Kennedy Jones followed suit with an RBI single of his own. Although, this run was a close one as Talmadge LeCroy managed to slide under the tag at the plate.

Speaking of LeCroy, he had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-4. He came just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.

“Just trying to hit the ball the other way and I was just trying to back the balls up, trying to see the ball as long as I can,” LeCroy said. “Just trying to set the tone for the rest of the guys and let them know that we can do it.”

While South Carolina did leave 10 runners on base through four innings, it did manage to keep the runs coming. After plating another run in the second, the Gamecocks added three more in the fourth. Cole Messina broke a 1-for-15 slump with an RBI single. He also added another RBI in the fifth.

To close things out in the fourth, Parker Noland brought home another run via sacrifice fly, and Gavin Casas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

On the mound, Eddie Copper continued to pitch very well as the team’s regular midweek starter. He cruised through the first four innings, striking out five batters without allowing a walk.

“I felt good. Slider was working today, my defense behind me was money just like they always are. It was good. Felt good to be back out there,” Copper said.

But in the fifth, he started to run into some trouble. He allowed a leadoff double down the right field line before picking up his sixth strikeout of the game. The next batter, Sawyer Reeves, reached on an infield single to bring home The Citadel’s first run of the game.

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After allowing another hit, Copper’s night came to an end after 4.1 innings of work. While not an ideal way to end his day, it was another good outing for him in his third start of the year.

With runners on the corners and one out, Parker Marlatt was called on in relief of Copper. He made quick work on the mound, striking out two straight batters to end the threat on just 11 pitches.

After Marlatt’s two-batter outing, Connor McCreery came in and tossed two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and struck out two on 27 pitches.

“Everything he’s doing is so much better,” Kingston said. “He’s moving better, his mechanics are better. The ball is jumping out of his hand, I think he was up to 96 today. He’s throwing more strikes. He looks more comfortable. It’s been a tremendous transformation.”

Drake Quinn, who hadn’t pitched since Feb. 21, pitched the final two innings of the game for South Carolina. He threw a clean eighth, striking out two. With one out in the ninth, Quinn snared a line drive and threw back to first for a game-ending double play.

“It’s a testament to the job that (pitching coach) Matt Williams has done,” Kingston said on the pitching staff’s outing. “You had Copper: freshman, Marlatt: freshman. Connor McCreery didn’t pitch much last year. Now he’s really developing nicely. And then Drake Quinn there at the end. Shoot, 13 strikeouts, no walks. Tremendously impressed and happy for those guys. It’s exactly what we needed.”

RELATED: South Carolina-The Citadel Box Score

Up next: South Carolina is back at Founders Park for another midweek game, this time against Davidson on Wednesday. First pitch is at 3 p.m. on SEC Network Plus. Left-hander Matthew Becker (2-0, 2.57 ERA) will make the start on the mound.

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