South Carolina pulls away late from North Florida for midweek win

In a battle of the birds, the Gamecocks squeaked by the Ospreys, as South Carolina baseball defeated North Florida on Tuesday afternoon, 5-2.

After three high-scoring fast starts this past weekend against VMI, USC (3-1) slowed somewhat on offense Tuesday, but another strong pitching performance by freshman left-hander John Gilreath and the bullpen was enough to secure the victory, as junior college transfer Eddy Demurias got his first save as a Gamecock.

Gilreath went four shutout innings, striking out four, walking one and allowing one hit. After him, South Carolina’s bullpen gave up its first runs of the season but held on, with sophomore Sawyer Bridges getting his first career win.

“I thought the key tonight was our pitching was outstanding,” head coach Mark Kingston said. “Really good pitching and defense for us.”

The majority of the offense USC did produce came from the bottom of the lineup, with No. 7 hitter Jacob Olson chipping in two RBI and No. 8 hitter Justin Row contributing another. Junior center fielder TJ Hopkins also put together a strong performance, going 3-5 with an RBI double.

THREE POINTS

Star of the game: Junior right fielder Jacob Olson. After homering in his first at-bat of the season, Olson went 0-11 against VMI. Against North Florida, his bat got the jump start it needed, with a 2-4 performance that included a home run, single and 2 RBIs, including the game-winning one in the top of the sixth. He also had a hard hit line drive to left field with the bases loaded, but the UNF outfielder make an impressive running grab.

“His approach was great. He looked like the guy we all know we have ... the guy that was our leading returning hitter,” Kingston said. “He took great at-bats all night, and I think most of them with two strikes.”

Play of the game: In the bottom of the seventh, with the game still very close at 3-2, UNF chose to intentionally walk junior shortstop LT Tolbert, loading the bases, in hopes of getting a friendlier matchup against junior first baseman Chris Cullen. Cullen, rather than trying to mash one deep to clear the bases, took the patient approach Mark Kingston has stressed for his team, drawing a five-pitch walk to score a valuable insurance run.

Stat of the game: 2-4. Leadoff batter and freshman Noah Campbell posted his best hitting performance for the Gamecocks this season, including an eighth-inning triple that set up an insurance run.

OBSERVATIONS

Improved timely hitting: After a rough opening series as far as hitting with runners in scoring position, South Carolina was better, though still not outstanding, Tuesday, going 3-11 with some key walks as well.

“I thought our at-bats tonight with runners in scoring position were better,” Kingston said. “Our strikeouts were down, we only have five tonight, and we had four walks, so the strikeout-to-walk ratio was good offensively, so I saw progress.”

Gilreath dazzles: Freshman John Gilreath wasn’t on the mound for very long Tuesday, but he showed the same poise and talent he did this past Friday when relieving Adam Hill. After surrendering a leadoff double to start the game, Gilreath retired 11 of the next 12 batters and could have easily gone deeper into the game if Kingston hadn’t decided to pull him, most likely to keep him as a bullpen option moving forward.

“He’s just got a little presence about him,” Hopkins said of his 17-year-old teammate’s success. “He walks around like he’s the man, which he should. That’s how every pitcher, in my mind, should walk around.”

NEXT

What: South Carolina vs. Winthrop

When: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21

Where: Founders Park

Probable pitchers: USC – Logan Chapman (Fr. RHP); Winthrop – Riley Arnone (Sr. LHP)

Watch: Steaming on SEC Network Plus via WatchESPN app

Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area

This story was originally published February 20, 2018 at 6:41 PM with the headline "South Carolina pulls away late from North Florida for midweek win."