COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Gamecocks opened their weekend series in dominant fashion, securing a convincing victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Friday night at Founders Park. Backed by an explosive offensive performance and strong pitching, the Gamecocks cruised to an 8-2 win to set the tone for the series.
South Carolina wasted little time getting on the board, striking early in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Will Tippett reached base on a walk and advanced to third on a sharp single by Ethan Petry. Cleanup hitter Gavin Casas then delivered with an RBI double down the right-field line, giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
Sacred Heart responded in the top of the third, briefly tying the game at 1-1 with an RBI single by Anthony DePino. However, that would be one of the few bright spots for the Pioneers, as South Carolina’s pitching staff quickly regained control.
Gamecocks’ starter Eli Jones turned in a strong outing, striking out seven over five innings while allowing just one run on three hits. His fastball command and ability to work ahead in counts kept the Sacred Heart lineup off balance.
South Carolina broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on defensive miscues by Sacred Heart. A dropped fly ball in left field and a throwing error set up the Gamecocks for a three-run rally, highlighted by a two-run single from Michael Braswell.
The offense continued to roll in the sixth inning when Braylen Wimmer launched a solo home run over the left-field fence, extending the lead to 5-1. Later in the frame, Petry added an RBI double, and Casas followed with a sacrifice fly to put South Carolina firmly in control.
The Gamecocks’ bullpen was equally effective, with left-hander Cade Austin and right-hander Matthew Becker combining for four innings of one-run relief. Sacred Heart managed a late run in the eighth, but it was too little, too late.
Head coach Mark Kingston praised his team’s performance, especially the balanced effort from both the pitching staff and the lineup. “We played a clean game, took advantage of opportunities, and our pitchers executed well,” Kingston said.
With the win, South Carolina improved to 6-1 on the season and will look to clinch the series in Saturday’s matchup. Sacred Heart, now 2-4, will need a strong response to avoid the sweep.
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