South Carolina baseball sweeps doubleheader against Princeton. What we saw

When South Carolina baseball envisioned a sweep of the Tigers this season, these probably weren’t the Tigers they had in mind.

The Gamecocks hosted Princeton for a Saturday doubleheader at Founders Park, one week removed from a series loss to the Clemson Tigers and a week ahead of USC’s conference opener at Florida.

USC got the result against these Princeton Tigers, sweeping the doubleheader against Princeton 10-7 and 4-3. The Gamecocks have a chance at their first weekend series sweep of the 2026 season on Sunday.

“I knew they’d be tough. Princeton is always scrappy but talented,” USC coach Paul Mainieri said. “If you want to have a good record at the end of the year, you have to win some games on Sunday. That’s way it’s been my whole career.”

Here are three key takeaways from Saturday’s doubleheader:

Gamecocks pull away in Game 1

Through four-and-a-half innings of the doubleheader’s first leg, Princeton had the Gamecocks on their heels. USC entered the bottom of the fifth down 5-3.

USC’s offense delivered, putting up two multi-run innings in the fifth and seventh frames to pull ahead and stay ahead. Princeton scored two runs in the eighth to stir some late trouble, but Gamecock closer Alex Valentin held strong and shut down the Tigers for his fourth save of the season.

Purdue transfer Logan Sutter, who has been a rotational piece at best after starting the year 9 for 19 at the plate, shined for the Gamecocks in Saturday’s first game, going 2 for 4 at the plate with three RBIs and a home run.

“It’s always nice having the wind blowing out, but we’re never trying to hit balls out of the park,” Sutter said. “We’re trying to just get something to drive.”

USC starters struggle

It wasn’t the most electric day on the mound for either of USC’s (10-5) starting pitchers.

Josh Gunther got the start in the first game. The Wake Forest transfer began the season out of the bullpen before making his first start last week vs. Clemson, throwing seven shutout innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts. His performance earned another weekend-opening start against Princeton.

Gunther wasn’t able to replicate his previous outing, going just 3.1 innings against these Tigers (2-6) and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits. He struck out six but left the game with USC down 4-1 entering the bottom of the fourth.

Riley Goodman got the start in game two. The redshirt freshman began the year as the opening day starter but has been shuffled around the rotation as he struggled with a 5.79 ERA and 0-2 record.

“I was patient with (Goodman), and we were fortunate he got out of a couple of jams. ... I think Riley, each time he goes out there, it’s progress, because he’s gaining more and more experience,” Mainieri said. “He ran a lot of counts full, and that drove his pitch count up. But he made some big pitches too. So it’s a work in progress, but he’ll get there.”

Goodman had a better day against Princeton but wasn’t dominant. He pitched 4.0 innings, letting up four hits and two walks while tossing two strikeouts. He gave up two earned runs and left USC down 2-0 when he was pulled from the game.

The best performance for a Gamecock pitcher on Saturday came from starter-turned-reliever Brandon Stone. He tossed 3.2 scoreless innings and recorded five strikeouts, allowing three hits and zero walks. Stone secured the winning decision for USC.

Mainieri, who has shifted his starting rotation around the last two weeks, still hasn’t found the perfect recipe. Amp Phillips will get the start on Sunday.

“We used our two big bullets out of the bullpen today. They won’t be available tomorrow, so we’re gonna have to have some guys step up out of the pen that maybe haven’t been used much, or have been used but in different roles,” Mainieri said. “But somebody’s got to get those last outs ... if we’re fortunate to have a lead.”

Late surge wins Game 2

USC struggled at the plate in game two, seemingly out of juice after a 10-run outburst in the first game. Princeton shut the Gamecocks out the first four innings of the game while it sprang to a 2-0 lead. The Gamecocks showed some life in the fifth inning, tying the game on a two-RBI single from freshman infielder Will Craddock.

That spark was quickly extinguished by Princeton in the top of the sixth. The Tigers homered against USC reliever Elijah Foster to retake a lead at 3-2.

USC wouldn’t go away so easy, loading up the bases for Talmadge LeCroy in the seventh inning. The fifth-year senior worked a walk that brough in the tying run. USC stranded its three base runners as it couldn’t score the go-ahead run before the end of the inning.

Stone held the Tigers scoreless in the top of the eighth, making way for Sutter to hit a solo home run in the bottom frame for a 4-3 lead. USC kept the ball in Stone’s hands for the ninth, and he came away with the lead and the victory despite USC allowing two runners on base on a single and a fielding error.

“I think Brandon Stone showed his maturity and his unselfishness after an error to pick up a teammate, make a big pitch there and get that pop-up,” Mainieri said.

South Carolina baseball upcoming schedule

• Sunday: vs. Princeton, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Tuesday, March 10: at The Citadel, 7 p.m. (ESPN Plus)
• Friday, March 13: at Florida, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Saturday, March 14: at Florida, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Sunday, March 15: at Florida, 1 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

This story was originally published March 7, 2026 at 8:02 PM.