By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Cody Estremera)

The entire series was close, and Sunday’s finale was no different. The finale came down to the bottom of the seventh where No. 7 South Carolina claimed the victory, winning 4-2.

Coming into the seventh inning the Gamecocks lead 2-1. Just like Chandler Taylor did the night before, Cody Henry lead off the inning with a game tying home run. However, the No. 7 team in the country answered.

Danny Blair started the bottom frame for the Gamecocks with a double. He would come around to score off a throwing error by Alabama pitcher Garrett Suchey, for the go-ahead run. Madison Stokes, who reached second because of the error, would come around to score off a sacrifice fly hit off the bat of Jonah Bride, for the second unearned of the inning.

Offensively both of the Crimson Tide runs came off home runs, Gene Wood’s in the top of the sixth and Henry’s in the seventh. Henry finished 2-for-3 with the home run and a single. Connor Short extended his hit streak to nine games, for the longest streak this season for the Crimson Tide passing Cobie Vance’s eight game streak. He finished 1-for-3 with a double.

South Carolina started the scoring in the second inning. TJ Hopkins started out with a walk, and would advance on the single by Riley Hogan. Hopkins would score after a pair of walks. The score would remain 1-0 till Wood’s solo home run in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth with two outs Hunter Taylor drew a walk. Hogan would get his only RBI of the game with a double to left-center scoring Taylor to put the Gamecocks back in front.

Alabama starter Nick Eicholtz had his best performance of the season. He went 5.2 innings and allowed two runs off two hits and eight walks. He also induced three double plays and recorded 14 of his 17 outs as ground balls. Suchey finished with the loss. He went 2.1 innings and allowed two unearned runs.

For South Carolina John Parke finished with the win. He pitched two innings and allowed just one base runner off a walk. Colie Bowers finished with his third save on the year as he recorded the final two outs of the game. Starter Clarke Schmidt went six innings and allowed just one run. He finished with five strikeouts and allowed just three hits.

Alabama faces Auburn in the midweek game. The two meet at the neutral site of Riverwalk stadium in Montgomery Ala. First pitch is at 7 p.m.

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Source:: The Crimson White Sports