Find a way to cut the lead or tie the game, give the lead right back. Rinse and repeat. That was the story of the night for South Carolina.
After a game-tying two-run homer by Dylan Brewer, who homered twice, in the seventh, the Gamecocks turned to Connor McCreery. But very quickly, he worked himself into trouble after putting two runners on with no outs.
McCreery would get the first out afterwards, albeit a long fly out to the warning track in left. Not wanting to take any chances, pitching coach Matt Williams came out to the mound to take the right-hander out and turn to Matthew Becker to get the right matchup with a lefty batter due up.
Becker would walk the first man he faced to load the bases. Then, he got a gift on a line out to Will Tippett for the second out. But after falling behind 3-1, the left-hander threw a pitch low and outside to give NC State the lead back.
Ultimately, this run would be the difference in the game. South Carolina fell to NC State, 6-4, in the winner’s bracket matchup of the Raleigh Regional on Saturday.
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Moving forward, the Wolfpack will need one more win to advance to Super Regionals. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks (37-24) will face elimination on Sunday and need to win three more games to advance.
Every time South Carolina’s offense got something going, the pitching gave it right back. Garrett Gainey got the start on the mound and immediately gave up a long solo homer three pitches into his outing.
He’d somewhat settle in after that, but he’d also serve up two more long balls to give NC State four runs. The left-hander made it through six innings, struck out four and walked two on 87 pitches. It was a serviceable start but those three mistakes were the difference for him.
For the most part, it was one of the games where South Carolina had to keep fighting back after trailing. But home runs from Tippett and Brewer would eventually get the game back to being even.
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For Brewer, though, it was a big night when he probably least expected it. With Ethan Petry out of the lineup, Brewer slid into left field and made his first start since April 26. He’d finish 2-for-3 with the two homers and three RBI.
But after Becker gave up the lead, he’d run into another tricky spot in the eighth. With runners on the corners and two outs, the runner at first stole second base without an issue. Dalton Reeves pump faked that way and threw behind the runner at third to try and get a tough out. However, his throw hit off the runners helmet and went down the left field line to give the Wolfpack a 6-4 lead.
Up next: South Carolina will look to keep its season alive when it faces James Madison on Sunday. First pitch is at 12 p.m. on ESPN+. Winner plays NC State in the regional final and will need to win three games in the next 48 hours to advance to Super Regionals. Loser goes home.
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