USC buries The Citadel in Charleston with offensive explosion in seventh
South Carolina hasn't won a lot away from home this season — the Gamecocks have come out ahead two times in 10 tries when not at Founders Park — but when it does, it goes all-out.
Three days after routing Kentucky in Lexington for its first road win, USC traveled to Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park to face The Citadel and came away with a 12-1 drubbing of the Bulldogs (12-20).
"It's funny, sometimes we get hot and they can't stop us and other days, not so much," coach Mark Kingston said of his team's up-and-down offensive results. "Just need to keep working and stay positive and move forward."
The majority of the offensive explosion Tuesday came in the seventh inning, as South Carolina (19-14) tallied seven runs in the frame, a season high, highlighted by a parade of 14 batters, a bases-loaded three-RBI double from junior outfielder Jacob Olson and a pair of RBI singles from sophomore left fielder Carlos Cortes and senior designated hitter Madison Stokes.
However, the Gamecocks were in control well before the seventh, scoring the first runs in the top of the third, as Olson walked to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a single by junior catcher Chris Cullen, then came around to score on another single by Cortes.
A sacrifice bunt, then an RBI groundout from junior shortstop LT Tolbert, scored Cullen.
Olson doubled USC's lead the very next inning with a two-run home run to left field, his team-leading ninth blast of the year. The junior has one of the lowest batting averages of the Gamecock regulars at .198, but his slugging percentage is a strong .504, because 19 of his 24 hits have gone for extra bases, including the two Tuesday.
"They're coming to me, I guess. I don't have an explanation for that," Olson said of that statistic, laughing. "Singles will come."
The next inning, Stokes rocked a solo homer to almost the same spot. With two RBIs, Stokes is still second on the team, despite missing roughly three weeks with a hamstring injury. Tuesday marked his first start back from that ailment, and he showed no ill effects.
"It felt really good. I was just glad to be back, get some at-bats, and (the home run) was just a little extra," Stokes said.
The Citadel, meanwhile, was handcuffed by freshman starter Carmen Mlodzinski, who made his first career start after coming out of the bullpen for most of the season. He tossed five shutout innings on 73 pitches, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out a career-high five batters.
"He's had good stuff all year but he hasn't taken quite that next step to being a guy, so we figured we'd look at him as a starter, and he was outstanding," Kingston said. "Threw with command, both of his pitches, his fastball and slider, for strikes at will. Very pleased."
Just 1,537 fans were in attendance to watch the contest, the smallest crowd in Charleston in several years, but Kingston said he was pleased his squad performed so well for an in-state road game, especially after the Bulldogs defeated the Gamecocks at Founders Park, 4-3, on March 20.
"This is such a great town. ... We love our fans and its great to bring them to a town like this and play some road games so our fans can see us in some different places," Kingston said. "Great park, great town, great night all around."
THREE POINTS
Star of the game: Jacob Olson, who went 2-3 at the plate with a three-RBI double and a two-RBI home run for a career-high five runs driven in. He also walked twice and scored three times in the contest.
Play of the game: Madison Stokes' home run in the top of the sixth was a no-doubt blast and a reassuring reminder that Stokes is still one of the Gamecocks' best offensive weapons despite missing roughly three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Stat of the game: Seven baserunners off just three hits for The Citadel, as the Gamecock pitching staff put together an under-the-radar but solid performance. The Bulldogs never had a runner on third, and outside of the sixth, USC had a WHIP of 0.5. Their success, Kingston said, contributed to the offense's breakout.
"When our pitchers do that, then it seems like our offense really relaxes and is able to do some good things," he said.
NEXT
Who: South Carolina (19-14, 5-7 SEC) vs. Arkansas (24-9, 8-4 SEC), Game 1
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, April 12
Where: Baum Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Watch: SEC Network
Listen: 107.5 FM in Columbia, South Carolina
Probable pitchers: South Carolina — Jr. RHP Adam Hill (3-3 4.79 ERA); Arkansas — Jr. RHP Blaine Knight (6-0, 1.93 ERA)
This story was originally published April 10, 2018 at 10:01 PM with the headline "USC buries The Citadel in Charleston with offensive explosion in seventh."