Recap: Costly errors lead to Game 1 loss to Mississippi State, 7-4

After two straight series losses, South Carolina faced Mississippi State in Game 1 of a 3-game SEC series Friday night at Founders Park. The Gamecocks had a 7-5 conference record with Clarke Schmidt on the mound. How did the Gamecocks fare?

FINAL: Mississippi State 7, South Carolina 4

LINESCORE

MSU (24-12): 140 000 002 = 7-7-2

USC (21-12): 000 000 400 = 4-9-3

WP – Konnor Pilkington (3-3)

LP – Clarke Schmidt (4-1)

SV – Spencer Price (12)

HR – MSU, Brent Rooker (1st, none on),

RBI – Jonah Bride (1), Jacob Olson (1), LT Tolbert (1)

LOB – USC 6, MSU 3

A – 7,281

Time – 3:09

Gamecock Pitchers: Clarke Schmidt (8.0 IP, 114 pitches), Josh Reagan (1.0, 20 pitches)

HIGHLIGHTS

-- Clarke Schmidt returned to his role as USC’s Friday night starter. His much-anticipated 1-on-1 matchup with Mississippi State’s Brent Rooker was won by the Bulldog in the top of the first when he homered over the center field fence.

-- After a single, sacrifice and walk, a 1-out fielding error by 2B LT Tolbert opened the door for a big inning for MSU in the top of the second. Two of the next four MSU batters delivered two-run singles, giving the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.

-- The MSU left fielders robbed Olson of a homer – or at minimum extra bases – by making a leaping catch at the wall in left-center. The loud out began a stretch in which MSU starter Konnor Pilkington retired 11 of 12 Gamecocks hitters until issuing a leadoff walk to Matt Williams in the bottom of the sixth.

-- After allowing the four runs in the top of the second, Schmidt settled in nicely. He set down MSU in order in the top of the third before fanning two Bulldogs hitters in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Through 7 innings, Schmidt had 10 strikeouts and just 1 walk.

-- After being handcuffed most of the night by Pilkington, the Gamecocks finally got something going offensively in the bottom of the seventh. Cullen singled and Destino doubled off the LF wall to put two runners into scoring position with no outs. Cullen raced home on a wild pitch for USC’s first run of the night. Moments later, Destino scored on Olson’s infield single into the hole. The MSU shortstop threw wildly to first, allowing Olson to barely reach second on a very close play.

-- Tolbert followed with a single to left – USC’s fourth straight hit – and Olson raced around third base. He hesitated for a moment and was called out on a headfirst slide. But the umpires reviewed the play and reversed the call, cutting the deficit to 5-3 and sending the tying run to the plate and a new MSU pitcher to the mound.

-- After a throwing error by MSU on a potential double play grounder by Stokes, Matt Williams couldn’t get a bunt down and struckout. Hopkins also fanned. Bride roped a double into the LF corner, allowing Tolbert to score from second. However, a perfect relay throw by the MSU shortstop nailed Stokes at the play, denying the Gamecocks the tying run.

-- Trailing 5-4 in the top of the ninth, Josh Reagan replaced Schmidt, who retired the last 19 MSU batters he faced. Reagan gave up a double and then fielded a bunt and fired a perfect throw to 3B in an attempt to throw out the lead runner, but Jonah Bride dropped the ball for an error. But Reagan came back with two strikeouts. However, the next MSU batter roped a drive into LCF. LF Alex Destino tied to make a running catch, but the ball deflected off his glove for a two-base error. More importantly, the miscue allowed two runs to score, giving the Bulldogs a 3-run cushion at 7-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth.

-- In the bottom of the ninth, Stoke singled through the left side with one out, putting the tying run in the on-deck circle and magnifying Destino’s costly two-run error in the top of the ninth. A fielder’s choice grounder and strikeout looking ended it.

-- Key stat of the game; Three Gamecocks errors led to 5 unearned run by Mississippi State. Schmidt was a hard luck loser for USC, allowing just 5 hits with 11 strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched. Just 2 of the 5 runs yielded by Schmidt were earned.

HOW THE RUNS SCORED:

MSU 1st – Mangum grounded to second, Brent Rooker homered to center (RBI), Gridley popped to short, Brown grounded to second. 1 RUN, 1 HIT (MSU 1-0).

MSU 2nd - MacNamee singled to left-center, Lovelady sacrificed (1-4), Poole walked, Alexander reached on fielder's choice (E4), Stovall singled to left-center (2 RBI), Mangum singled through right side, Rooker struck out swinging, Gridley singled to right (2 RBI), Brown struck out looking. 4 RUNS, 4 HITS (MSU 5-0).

USC 7th - Cullen singled to left, Destino doubled to left, Cullen scored on wild pitch, Olson singled to shortstop and advanced to second on throwing error (E6)(RBI), Tolbert singled to left (RBI), Stokes reached on a fielder's choice (E5)(Tolbert advanced to second on throwing error), Williams struck out swinging, Hopkins struck out swinging, Bride doubled to left (RBI) and Stokes out at home (7-6-2). 4 RUNS, 5 HITS (MSU 5-4).

MSU 9th - <Reagan for Schmidt>, MacNamee doubled to right-center, Lovelady reached on fielder's choice (bunt) and MacNamee advanced to third on fielding error by third baseman (E5), Poole struck out swinging, Alexander struck out swinging, Stovall reached on a fielding error by LF (E7)(2 runs scored, both unearned), Mangum singled to second base and Stovall thrown out at home (4-2). 2 RUNS, 2 HITS (MSU 7-4).