Gamecocks blast two homers, cruise to double-digit victory

The big bats are at it again.

South Carolina would use a few massive swings of the bat Wednesday, including a grand slam from Hunter Taylor, mixed with shutdown bullpen pitching to dominate Winthrop 15-2.

“You just attribute that to good baseball,” head coach Mark Kingston said. “I think we’re playing pretty well in all areas. That’s why we’re seeing results. You don’t try to win a blowout. You focus on the process and these things happen.”

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The Gamecocks are now winners of four straight and are outscoring opponents 36-6 since losing on opening day.

After putting up two runs in the second, the Gamecocks (4-1) would strike for six in the third thanks in part to the Taylor home run. It was his first grand slam and his second home run this season.

He’d finish 1-for-4 with a career-high five RBI. Justin Row, who had a RBI single in the second, would tack on another RBI, this time a run-scoring double down the line. He’d finish 3-for-3 and would leave the game late with a hamstring injury.

After the game Kingston said it was precautionary and Row should be able to play this weekend. After Wednesday, he’s hitting .455 with a double and a home run. He has four RBI, five off his total last season.

“It feels good, just trying to do my part to get on base and do what I can,” he said. “The power, it’s just getting off the bat. It’s not unusual. It’s just happening right now.”

Check out Wednesday's box score here

The Gamecocks would score runs in all but two innings, plating at least one run in the last four times they went to bat. Seven players would notch hits as the Gamecocks would get 14 position players at-bats.

The Gamecocks are outscoring opponents 21-3 over the first three innings this season and 17-0 over the four-game win streak.

“You always want to jump on a team early. To get to the starter is really key,” Tolbert said. “If we can continue to do that and get to team’s bullpens, it not only helps in that first game but it helps us the next two in the weekend because they’re going to be a little thin.”

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Logan Chapman would get the start for the Gamecocks, giving up two runs—one earned— over three innings. He’d throw 69 pitches and walk two.

Five other pitchers would come in and combine for six shutout innings, giving up four hits total. TJ Shook would inherit a bases loaded no out jam and get a strikeout and inning-ending double play to alleviate the threat.

Hunter Lomas would shut things down in his second appearance of the season, giving up one hit and striking out two more to end the game.

“I’m really encouraged by them,” Kingston said. “They really attacked the zone. I thought all of those guys were really good.”

The Gamecocks take their winning streak and offensive output into a weekend series with Charleston Southern as they try to keep this momentum going.

Four more extra-base hits were added Wednesday with home runs from Tolbert and Taylor, the Row double and a Kyle Jacobsen triple off the wall in center.

That makes 19 extra base hits in five games with roughly 37 percent of hits going for more than just a single.

“We knew coming into the year the offense was going to be a strong point for our team. We take a lot of pride in the work we did this offseason and all the technology we have,” Tolbert said. “I think that’s why the results are starting to show in games.

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Pivotal play: With the bases loaded, TJ Shook would come in and silence the lineup and get out of the jam without giving up a run. The Gamecock bullpen has only given up two runs this season.

Player of the game: LT Tolbert would drive in four runs and hit his first home run of the year, the first by a lefty and first one to right field.

Up next: The Gamecocks will start a three-game series with Charleston Southern starting Friday. Game one’s first pitch will be at 4 p.m. at Founders Park. Adam Hill will start the game.