Hawkins Field — Nashville, TN
GAME ONE
Friday, April 14, 2023
The Gamecocks jumped out to a hot start in Game 1 of another highly anticipated series between No. 6 South Carolina and No. 4 Vanderbilt. Cole Messina got the scoring going for the Gamecocks with a 2-run home run in the 1st inning. The VandyBoys chalked up a 4 spot in the 2nd inning with 5 straight guys reaching base and 4 hits in the inning. After that, however, it was all Yardcocks.
The Gamecocks went to work with a home run in 3 consecutive innings, lead by a solo homer in the 4th from Messina, followed by a Michael Braswell’s solo shot in the 5th. In the 6th, Ethan Petry tied things up with his 17th homer of the season, followed by an RBI single from Carson Hornung and a 2RBI Braswell triple immediately after, in which he scored the next batter when Evan Stone dropped down an RBI bunt single.
Will Sanders got the nod and earned the win on the hill, (W, 3-1). He went 5IP, 5H, 4ER, 4K, 4BB on 86 pitches. The Eli duo came out of the bullpen and took care of the rest. Eli Jones went 2IP, 4H, 2H, K, 0BB. Eli Jerzembeck went 2IP 0H, 0R, 3K, 0BB. For Vanderbilt, Bryce Cunningham started on the mound and went: (L, 1-1) 5IP 6H, 6R, 4ER, 7K, BB on 89 pitches. Sam Hliboki: 2IP, 7H, 7R, 7ER, K, 0BB.
Top Performers:
- Cole Messina: 2-3, 3RBI, 2R, 2BB
- Carson Hornung: 3-5, 3RBI, 2R, K
- Michael Braswell: 2-5, 3RBI, 2R
STATS & NOTES:
- Carolina reaches the 30 win mark on the season.
- Ethan Petry is now tied with Justin Smoak for the Gamecock freshman home run record.
- Carson Hornung extended his on base streak to 15 consecutive games.
GAME TWO
Saturday, April 15, 2023
The VandyBoys pulled off a big come from behind win in Saturday’s Game 2 after scoring 8 unanswered runs after being down 4-0 early. The Gamecocks got off and running in the 1st inning thanks to 4 walks, a hit-by-pitch, and 2 hits, pushing across 4 runs before even taking the field. The Commodores clawed back in the 3rd with back-to-back home runs from R.J. Schreck, who leads the team with 9HRs) followed by a solo shot from Jack Bulger to cut the lead to 4-3.
The Dores would later score the tying run on a wild pitch in the 5th, followed by an R.J. Austin RBI single to plate Enrique Bradfield Jr. But Vandy wasn’t done there…they extended their lead with 3 more runs in the 7th. In the top half of the 7th, however, R.J. Schreck made one of the most ridiculous catches of the YEAR as he flipped over into the bullpen to make the grab!
Bulger plated a run with a dingle, followed by a successful double steal. Austin scored Schreck on an infield single and Bulger came in to score on a sac fly from Chris Maldonado to make it a 4 run lead for the Dores.
Jack Mahoney got the start but took the loss (3-1): 4.1IP, 5H, 5R, 2ER, 4K, BB on 62 pitches. The Vanderbilt bullpen was clutch in Game 2 after Carter Holton only lasted 0.2IP, 2H, 4ER, K, BB. Greysen Carter came out of the pen early to hold the line, going 2.1IP, 0H, 0ER, K, BB. Patrick Reilly followed him out of the pen and would pick up the win, going 4IP, H, 0ER, 6K, 2BB. Nick Maldonado closed the door, pitching the last 2 innings, going 2IP, H, ER, 4K, BB.
Top Performers:
- Jack Bulger: 2-3, 2RBI, 2, BB, K
- R.J. Austin: 2-4, 2RBI, K
- Michael Braswell: 1-4, 2RBI, 2K
GAME THREE
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Number 6 and Number 4 in the nation faced off on Sunday in the rubber match to decide the series. Freshman phenom, Ethan Petry broke the ice with his 18th home run of the season, passing Justin Smoak in 2006 for the most home runs by a freshman in South Carolina history.
But Vandy answered with 2 runs in the 2nd thanks to 2RBI from a Parker Noland double and a Jonathan Vastine single. Devin Futrell started on the hill for the Commodores and went: 5.1IP, 4H, 2R, 8K, 3BB on 86 pitches. They would retake the lead with 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th also after a bases-loaded walk and a fielding error.
Petry plated his 3rd RBI of the game in the 8th with a double, but Vandy would later make it a 6-3 game afte Enrique Bradfield’s homer. The Gamecocks had fight left in them in the 9th as Talmadge LeCroy hit a solo home run but it wouldn’t be enough. Ryan Ginther would pick up the win, (2-0), going 3.2IP, 2H, 2ER, 9K, 3BB on 52 pitches.
As for the Gamecocks pitching staff, Matthew Becker got the start and went 4IP, 4H, 2ER, 8K, 3BB on 87 pitches. Eli Jones, was first out of the pen, in which Cade Austin followed for a batter, then James Hicks, the Wesley Sweatt, each for an inning. Jones was handed the loss (4-2), going 1.2IP H, 3R, ER, K, BB.
Top Performers:
- Ethan Petry: 2-3, 3RBI, R, K
- Enrique Bradfield Jr.: 2-4, RBI, 2R, HR, BB, K
STATS & NOTES:
- Ethan Petry passed Justin Smoak’s 2006 freshman home run record of 17.
- Petry passed Smoak’s record in 36 games, 30 less than Smoak.