Matthew Becker keeps getting better, Gamecocks clinch series over Milwaukee

It’s a small sample size, but Matthew Becker is beginning to look like the ace of the South Carolina pitching staff.

The former Chapin High standout was dominant over the course of his 6.1 innings Saturday to propel the Gamecocks to a 6-3 victory over Milwaukee at Founders Park.

Becker allowed two runs — one on tough luck — and left after 86 pitches, 63 that he threw for strikes. He was aided by RBIs from the bottom of the USC lineup and the 46th career home run from Ethan Petry as the Gamecocks earned the series win over the Panthers.

Brandon Stone pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits with one strikeout and walk.

“I told the players after the game to not get bored winning baseball games. It’s hard to win college baseball games,” USC head coach Paul Mainieri said. “Just look around the country. LSU lost today to Omaha. It sounds like a broken record, but we did what it takes. We got outstanding starting pitching that was in total command.”

Becker makes case to be Friday starter

The South Carolina pitching staff has been solid in getting off to the 7-0 start, but nobody has been better than Becker. He followed his stellar outing last week with another one against Milwaukee.

The left-hander gave up three hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. The first run by the Panthers was a case of bad luck with a ball to right field that was lost in the sun and fell in for a double. An RBI single by Tyler Bickers scored Milwaukee’s first run in the fourth inning.

There has never been a question about Becker’s potential, but he seems to be putting it together in his senior season. In 11 innings pitched, Becker has allowed two runs on four hits with 17 strikeouts and no walks. He’s as locked in as he’s ever been.

“I felt like I had everything working today. Last week there were a lot of fastballs,” Becker said. “My approach has been better. (Pitching coach Terry) Rooney has really done a good job with the entire pitching staff in taking each pitch as it’s the most important pitch you’re going to throw. Personally, I’ve done a better job of staying on top of my body.”

Bottom half of lineup does good job

KJ Scobey and Jordan Carrion, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the USC lineup, did their job on Saturday. They combined for three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored in the victory.

Scobey got the Gamecocks offense going with a two-run single in the bottom of the second. Carrion, the transfer from Florida State who sat out last season and made his first Gamecocks start at second base, followed with an RBI single to right field. Nathan Hall added a sacrifice fly to stake USC to a 4-0 lead in the second inning.

Carrion had two hits and scored after his single in the seventh inning.

Carrion’s “role is to be the super sub infield defensive guy at any position. But when you don’t play for a while in a full game, it’s easy to not be able to handle that situation,” Mainieri said. “Scobey and Carrion came through with two big hits.”

Petry chasing history

Ethan Petry continues to narrow the gap on Justin Smoak’s USC career home run mark of 62.

The junior from Land O’Lakes, Florida hit his second of the season Saturday, an absolute blast in the fifth inning that went 409 feet off the batter’s eye in center field. It was clocked at 110 mph off the bat. Petry hit 23 home runs as a freshman and 21 last season.

He has two home runs in as many weekends now and he’s just 16 away from tying Smoak for the school record.

USC baseball schedule: Upcoming games

• Sunday vs. Milwaukee, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Tuesday vs. Gardner-Webb, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Friday: at Clemson, 7 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)
• March 1: vs. Clemson at Greenville, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• March 2: vs. Clemson, 5 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)