The Gamecocks were in danger of being swept for the first time since 2015, but Carlos Cortes and Jonah Bride had other ideas.
Down a run in the sixth inning, the freshman hammered a game-tying home run to right field, his fourth of the season and third in two games.
It vaulted the Gamecocks to a 6-1 win over Mississippi State Sunday after Bride drove in the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
The Gamecocks would plate four more in the eighth on a two-out, two-RBI hit from LT Tolbert, Matt Williams and Madison Stokes and turned the ball over to Tyler Johnson in the ninth.
It’s the Gamecocks (22-13, 8-7 SEC) first win in their last four games and just their second SEC win in six tries.
“It was a big relief for us to win this one today with the way we lost the first two. We live to fight another day and keep our head above water in the SEC," head coach Chad Holbrook said. "I think that’s why it’s a significant game.”
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Cortes's game-tying home run was his third in two games. The freshman, making just his 18th start of his career, is now fifth on the team with 17 RBI.
“He’s done a great job. He’s exceeded his expectations and we’re going to expect more out of him to continue to improve and get better and continue to produce runs like he has been," Stokes said. "We’re proud of him and the other guys that are producing runs. He’s done a great job. He’s an extremely talented kid. We’re glad he’s on our team.”
Johnson would close the door on the vaunted Mississippi State lineup, striking out the first two batters he faced and inducing a game-ending groundout. It was Johnson's first SEC appearance of the season, and while he doesn't pick up the save, is happy he got some run support before he trotted to the mound.
“I love me some runs. There’s nothing better," he said, smirking. "I really like the fact that we were able to combine hits back-to-back-to-back.”
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Adam Hill would befuddle Bulldog hitters through the first five innings of the game, giving up just two hits in five shutout innings. He would surrender a run in the sixth after a leadoff double and wild pitch moved Jake Mangum to third on a wild pitch.
Mangum would come around to score on a RBI double from Ryan Gridley. It didn’t take long for the score to be evened, though.
After Hill used a double play to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, Cortes launched his mammoth shot to right to tie the game.
“Our pitchers did a great job. We managed the inning in holding them to one run there," head coach Chad Holbrook said. "Even though we got behind, the dugout got some momentum after that inning and obviously it was a big inning for us.”
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Hill would finish throwing six innings, giving up one run on three hits. He walked four batters and struck out seven.
Mississippi State wouldn't get a runner past first base the last three innings of the game.
After struggling with runners on base all weekend, the Gamecocks went 4-for-10 with men on and 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
“I think this game is definitely going to spring us and it’s going to be something that’s going be hard to beat us," Stokes said. "We’re not going to back down from here on out.”
Play of the Game: With the Gamecocks leading by just one, LT Tolbert hit a two-RBI single in the eighth to make it a three-run game. It busted the game open, as they'd plate three more runs in the inning.
Top Performer: After being benched yesterday, Madison Stokes responded by tying his career-high with three hits. He finished 3-for-4 with a RBI.
Up Next: The Gamecocks host Davidson Tuesday at 7 p.m. in their last midweek game of the month. No starter has been named yet.
