South Carolina bats go cold as Gamecocks can’t sweep Charleston Southern
The skies were turned from gray to blue when Chris Cullen stepped to the plate in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game. A strong rain that caused South Carolina and Charleston Southern to be delayed for an hour and 13 minutes was long gone.
A number of things were returning to normal, such as USC’s offense again setting up for a breakthrough. But when Cullen, the Gamecocks’ .300-hitting junior, flew out to center to leave the bases loaded, it was a reminder that this afternoon in Founders Park was not like the previous two.
The Buccaneers avoided a sweep and changed the series’ main narrative with a 4-2 win before an announced crowd of 6,353.
“I didn’t expect us to only have four hits today,” said Carolina coach Mark Kingston. “There’s no question about it.
“How many you expect to score? That’s based on the opponent, but when you’re averaging nine runs a game and you’re going on a Sunday and your pitchers do a good job of managing the game for the most part, you should expect to win.”
South Carolina (6-2) had its six-game winning streak end thanks mostly to a previously hot lineup being silenced.
CSU starter Tyler Weekley allowed one run on two hits in five innings and reliever Cody Smith authored a clutch four-out save that began with the Cullen matchup.
Down 4-1 in the eighth, USC staged a two-out rally. Carlos Cortes walked, TJ Hopkins reached via throwing error, Noah Bride walked and LT Tolbert walked. The stretch cut the lead to 4-2, but also got CSU coach Adam Ward to go to Smith.
Smith’s 0-1 pitch to Cullen ended the threat.
“Bases loaded, you like your chances there,” Kingston said. “I was confident at that point. I thought Chris would come through, he just got a little bit under that ball.”
The Bucs improved to 3-4.
THREE POINTS
Stars of the game: Weekley for the Buccaneers. Tolbert for the Gamecocks.
Weekley, a right-hander, improved to 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA this season. He struck out two batters Sunday, while walking one.
“The guy kept us off-balance, clearly,” Kingston said. “I didn’t think we were able to get off as many good swings today.”
Tolbert was the only Gamecock to have more than one hit. The junior went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple and that run-scoring walk. Tolbert is 14 for 28 with two home runs and eight RBIs this season.
Play of the game: Carolina’s missed opportunity in the eighth. Cullen, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, had one hit in each of the first two games of the series.
Stat of the game: After a combined 21 runs on 24 hits Friday and Saturday, the Gamecocks were limited to two runs on four hits.
“We know we have a good offense,” Tolbert said. “And just because today we didn’t have as much success, nothing changes. We still think we have a good offense.
“Early in the year like this, something like today might be good for us down the road, kind of just wake us up and make sure we don’t get too content. I know we scored a lot of runs the past couple games.”
OBSERVATIONS
Third inning escapes Ridge Chapman: South Carolina starter Ridge Chapman allowed four runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. The third frame was critical as he gave up a couple two-out walks before a two-RBI triple to Mike Sconzo.
Freshman continues to shine: Rookie left-hander John Gilreath relieved Chapman after the rain delay in the sixth and worked the rest of the game. He struck out two batters and had no walks.
In 11 1/3 innings this season, Gilreath has yet to allow a run. He has 10 strikeouts to one walk.
NEXT
What: South Carolina vs. Furman (3-4)
When: 4 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Founders Park
Probable USC pitcher: Gilreath (0-0, 0.00 over 11 1/3 innings)
Watch: Streaming on SEC Network Plus via WatchESPN app
Radio: 107.5 FM in Columbia, South Carolina
This story was originally published February 25, 2018 at 3:28 PM with the headline "South Carolina bats go cold as Gamecocks can’t sweep Charleston Southern."