South Carolina rides freshman pitching to midweek win

South Carolina Baseball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC • Polls

Needing some inexperienced arms to perform well in South Carolina’s first midweek game, the Gamecocks got exactly what they asked for.

South Carolina got length from two freshmen—Cade Austin and Aidan Hunter—to pick up a 7-1 win over Winthrop Tuesday night.

“It was very good. I was pleased between the two of those guys, two freshmen pitchers, through seven innings walked one guy. That’s all we ask: let our defense work,” Mark Kingston said. “It’s a really good defense, it’s an athletic defense. Just let them work. One walk in seven innings with those guys is outstanding.”

It was a much-needed bounce-back performance for Austin, who threw four innings of one-run baseball.

After giving up six runs on five hits in 1.2 innings Friday, he’d pitch out of trouble in the first inning after he put the first two batters he faced on base. After that, he’d strike out two and get out of the inning with a popup.

The second and third innings saw him mow down six straight, doing it efficiently on just 14 pitches. After giving up a home run, he’d pitch out of a two-on, two-out jam in the fourth to end his outing.

Austin finished striking out three on 53 pitches with one walk, picking up his first-career win which was also his first-career start.

“After my first outing, I’d like to thank my teammates for keeping me up. I talked to some older players who struggled throughout their first outings and it was good to talk to him. It was nice to go out there and pitch more to my capabilities and show who I am.”

Despite having opportunities too, the Gamecocks (3-1) couldn’t really break the game open until late.

They’d load the bases three times in the first four innings Tuesday and didn’t capitalize enough. They started the game 1-for-9 with the bases loaded. South Carolina ultimately stranded 14 against Winthrop in addition to hitting 7-for-25 (.280) with runners on base. They hit 6-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

“We did win 7-1 but we could be a lot better than that. There’s a lot more in the tank,” Kingston said. “You just make sure they’re aware of both. You make them aware we’re happy we won 7-1 but it could have been even better for us.”

Andrew Eyster and Colin Burgess combined to drive in four of the team’s seven runs. Eyster delivered a run-plating fielder’s choice and then an RBI single while Burgess had the Gamecocks’ lone hit with the bases loaded, a two-run single.

Kevin Madden drove in the other, diving headfirst into first to come up with a two-out, RBI infield single. He’d also deliver the team’s only extra-base hit of the day, a solo shot in the 8th inning.

Madden’s now had three-straight multi-hit games and while also hitting .375 on the early season.

“He’s a good player. He told us he’s always been kind of a slow starter. In the spring games he was doing just OK and early in the season it was just OK,” Kingston said. “You can see he’s starting to get his rhythm. He’s taking great at-bats. He had two hits but could have had more.”

Michael Braswell also continued his hot start, finishing with a walk and two hits, one of which was an RBI single in the seventh.

He’d also make a fantastic backhanded play early in the game to rob a hit.

Aidan Hunter was good out of the bullpen on a night South Carolina needed him to be, tossing three scoreless innings in relief. He’d give up three hits and strike out three while working out of a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh.

“He’s progressed a ton since he got here in the fall in terms of his mechanics and poise. I give coach Parker a ton of credit in the work he’s done with Aidan,” Kingston said.

“There’s no way he could have done what he did tonight a few months ago. He couldn’t get through an inning in an intrasquad in the fall. To see him look like that tonight, to look sharp, look poised, I give him and coach Parker a lot of credit.”

Discuss South Carolina women’s basketball on The Insiders Forum

South Carolina’s pitching staff also limited Winthrop to just 3-for-14 with runners on base as the Eagles stranded eight.

John Gilreath and CJ Weins combined to pitch the final two innings, not allowing a run while also striking out one.

“I thought it was a good night for us tonight. It was really good to see that kind of pitching out of Cade, Aidan, Gilly and CJ. That’s exactly what we ended on a Tuesday night,” Kingston said. “The offense was good not great. The offense left a lot of guys on base tonight. Fourteen guys? Have to be better than that. but when you win 7-1 you say good job and move on to the next.”

The Gamecocks have a few days off before hosting George Washington in a three-game series.

Click for Tuesday’s box score.