South Carolina drops SEC opener in extra innings. What we saw:

Vibes were far from an all-time high for South Carolina baseball to start the 2026 season.

From a distance, things might not look totally bleak: USC had six losses on the year already but had won every weekend series besides its rivalry weekend series against Clemson.

Take a closer look and some alarm bells might start to ring. Of USC’s six losses, four were to non-power conference teams, including a loss to Queens (N.C.) which was the Royals’ first-ever win against a high-major program. But if the Gamecocks could put it together during conference play — and even improve a little from last year’s 6-24 conference record — perhaps morale would improve.

USC opened its SEC schedule Friday night at the No. 23 Florida Gators. The Gamecocks battled nine innings without scoring or allowing a run, but ultimately dropped the series opener 1-0.

“It was a great ballgame, and I thought we were gonna win it, until we didn’t,” USC coach Paul Mainieri said.

Free baseball

In the first nine innings, a combined no-hitter hung over the USC (12-7, 0-1 SEC) pitching staff. Florida (16-3, 1-0 SEC) broke up the no-no on its last out in the ninth but couldn’t take advantage, so the game went into extra innings.

USC didn’t make any noise in the 10th, and that potential defeat began to hang heavier and heavier after Florida put two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the inning. Defeat would ultimately prevail as Florida walked the Gamecocks off in the tenth.

“It was disappointing obviously because (Brandon) Stone pitched his heart out, (Alex) Valentin got a big out and obviously (Josh) Gunther was amazing,” Mainieri said.

Dueling aces

Both Florida’s and USC’s Friday night starters did not disappoint to begin conference play.

Gators ace Liam Peterson struck out five Gamecocks his first time through the order and didn’t give up his first hit of the game until the fourth inning. After that hit, Florida quickly limited the damage with a double play. USC also had some unfortunate luck at the plate, making solid contact that seemed to always fly straight toward a Florida fielder’s glove.

The game was scoreless through six innings, but Peterson was pulled from the game ahead of the seventh inning after running his pitch count up to 98. He finished with one hit, two walks no runs and threw 10 strikeouts.

Gamecock starter Josh Gunther, who made his first career start Feb. 27 against Clemson, met Peterson’s challenge and then some. He tossed 6.1 no-hit innings, walking three and striking out five. After Gunther gave up a walk in the seventh inning on his 94th pitch of the game, Mainieri decided to go for the win over history.

“I didn’t notice I had no hits until I came out of the game,” Gunther said.

USC closer Valentin took over on the mound with one out and a runner at first. He loaded the bases with two walks before forcing a groundout to escape the jam without allowing a run.

“When I’m cheering them on, I’m trying to instill the confidence that, hey, you can just go up here and attack,” Gunther said. “The guys were competing. It was an all-team effort. The defense behind me was phenomenal. ... For us, it’s a loss, but I think we can build off this.”

Two hits better than one

The Gamecocks didn’t add another hit after the fourth inning, and couldn’t take advantage of the eight free passes on three Florida errors, four walks and one hit batter.

USC struck out 13 times in the first nine innings and went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position. The Gamecocks loaded the bases on three free passes in the ninth before Dawson Harman hit a ground ball to second to end the inning.

Right-handed reliever Stone took the hill for USC for extras. He gave up a single with two outs but got out of the inning and ensured the Gamecocks at least one more chance at victory.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t win, but we only had one hit,” Mainieri said. “It’s hard to win a game when you only get one hit.”

Florida had only two hits in the game, one in the ninth and the other in the tenth inning. But that’s all the Gators ultimately needed: Florida freshman Cash Strayer hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning that won the series opener for the Gators.

South Carolina baseball upcoming schedule

• Saturday: at Florida, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Sunday: at Florida, 1 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Tuesday, March 17: vs. Charlotte, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Friday, March 20: vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Saturday, March 21: vs. Arkansas, 4 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
• Sunday, March 22: vs. Arkansas, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 9:54 PM.