Gamecocks come back to edge North Florida. Up next is rivalry series with Clemson
After dropping a weekend series to Northwestern, South Carolina scratched out a 6-5 victory over North Florida at Founders Park Tuesday afternoon in the only midweek game before the annual showdown series with Clemson.
The Gamecocks got home runs from George Callil and Bryant Bowen before adding single runs in the fifth and sixth inning to record the first come-from-behind victory of the season.
Julian Bosnic and T.J. Shook pitched the final 4 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. The biggest key: They walked one and struck out seven. The first three South Carolina pitchers walked five in 4 1/3 innings. Bosnic earned the first win of his career.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been out there,” Bosnic said. “My arm felt good in the bullpen, so it was a good outing all around.”
Stars of the game
Bosnic and Shook were the final two of five USC pitchers, and it was their performance that turned what looked like a rough night into a plus from the back end of the bullpen.
Bosnic, a left-handed redshirt freshman coming off of Tommy John surgery, stopped UNF’s momentum and then Shook slammed the door in a dominant two innings of work.
North Florida took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth and had runner at first with one out when Bosnic entered the game. He proceeded to retire eight of the nine batters he faced. The only base runner he allowed came on a two-out walk in the seventh inning. That runner eventually moved to third on two wild pitches, but he was stranded there.
Bosnic pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed no runs on no hits with two strikeouts and one walk. South Carolina had walked five in the first 4 1/3 innings, and two of them came around to score.
“Bosnic threw really well,” Kingston said. “He’s a guy coming off Tommy John in the past. We’re hoping he’s getting a little bit better every week. He’s got a breaking ball and he was 88-89 with decent command of the fastball. That will help us.”
Shook pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit and struck out five. He struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning.
“He’ll be a key guy back there,” Kingston said. “I want to get to the point where our bullpen, every guy that comes in there is dominant and doesn’t have to be overused. And we don’t have to worry about them walking guys.”
Key inning
It’s not often that a one-run inning is key, but South Carolina executed perfectly in the sixth inning for what proved to be the eventual winning run.
Braylen Wimmer led off the frame with a single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Colin Burgess. After the second out of the inning, Jeff Heinrich singled to score Wimmer from second base. Heinrich is batting .115 on the season, so Kingston hopes Tuesday’s key hit gets him going offensively.
“That was not hit as well as 10 of the balls he’s hit so far this year that turned into outs,” Kingston said. “This one was well placed, and it was a clutch hit. It ended it being the game-winning hit. It was good to see him rewarded.”
Turning point
South Carolina dropped a pair of extra-inning games to Northwestern over the weekend. Kingston admitted he was a little on edge because of that and the Clemson series this upcoming weekend.
“There’s fine line between if you try to help them relax because they’re pressing, or you need to give them a kick in the butt. Truthfully, I did a little bit of both,” Kingston said. “After the game, I let them know I was probably a little more on edge than normal because of this weekend and what’s ahead of us. I wanted us to play good enough tonight to create some momentum.”
East Tennessee State handed Clemson its first loss of the season Tuesday night 5-3.
WHEN DO THE GAMECOCKS PLAY CLEMSON?
Who: South Carolina (6-2) vs. Clemson (7-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Founders Park
TV: Streaming online on SEC Network Plus via WatchESPN
Radio: 107.5 FM in Columbia area
This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 7:12 PM.