COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina baseball team accounted for all of its runs in the fifth inning and four Gamecock hurlers struck out eight in a 7-1 win over Gardner-Webb Tuesday night at Founders Park.
Gardner-Webb had a 1-0 lead on a solo home run, but Carolina sent 13 men to the plate in the fifth. The big hit was a Gavin Casas three-run home run to right. Parker Noland and Will Tippett also had hits in the inning. Carolina scored runs on a Talmadge LeCroy hit by pitch, a Tyler Causey sacrifice fly and an Ethan Petry bases-loaded walk.
Eddie Copper picked up his first win of the season, striking out five in five innings of work. He allowed three hits and a run with a walk. Ty Good struck out two in two hitless innings while Tyler Dean and Connor McCreery each pitched a shutout inning of relief.
Casas drove in three runs while Brewer walked three times. Noland reached base three times and had an RBI.
South Carolina improves to 8-1 and will host Clemson Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Founders Park. The series shifts to Founders Park on Saturday and Doug Kingsmore Stadium for Sunday’s series finale.