Gamecocks can’t hold on to early lead as Missouri battles back to win, sweep series

South Carolina is still searching for an elusive first SEC series win this season.

The Gamecocks had a chance to salvage one win against Missouri, but the Tigers battled back Sunday for a 9-7 win in a rain-shortened game to sweep the series at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.

“The game is called after seven innings due to weather and SEC rules on resumption by 6 p.m.,” USC said via Twitter.

USC scored four runs in the first inning Sunday, one on a bases-load walk, another on a balk and two more on an Andrew Eyster single. The Gamecocks held a 7-6 lead in the sixth before the Tigers tied things up.

Missouri designated hitter Peter Zimmermann then connected for a two-run home run in the seventh off USC reliever Sawyer Bridges (2-1) to put the Tigers up 9-7.

The Tigers won the series opener 5-2 and then held USC to one hit Saturday in an 11-0 finish. Missouri outhit Carolina 14-4 on Sunday.

“We still didn’t get as many hits as I would expect us to get,” South Carolina coach Mark Kingston said. “We just have to be better.”

The Gamecocks fell to 24-20 overall and 5-16 in the SEC. Missouri is now 30-15-1 (10-10-1).

The Gamecocks host Vanderbilt in a three-game series that starts Friday. The team’s SEC series after the Commodores are home against Kentucky followed by a regular-season finish at Mississippi State.

“We’ve just got to keep working and we’ve got to keep evaluating,” Kingston said. “That’s what this is all about at this point.”

This story was originally published April 28, 2019 at 6:43 PM.