Gamecocks Drop Game Two To LSU Through A Stunning Late-Game Rally

South Carolina's Baseball had a chance to clinch a series win in game two, but the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers strung together clutch at-bats to even the series.

Mark Kingston and the South Carolina Gamecocks went through the first seven innings looking as if the momentum from their Thursday night victory over the LSU Tigers was not going to be short-lived. Thanks to their collective plate discipline against the Tigers' pitching staff, the Gamecocks recorded a four-run second inning and a three-run fifth inning to carry a four-run lead heading into the top of the eighth inning.

This is were things, however, turned upside down for South Carolina. Cade Austin would come on in relief for Chris Veach, who had just pitched a season-long three innings, giving up no runs and no hits in that stretch. Austin from the beginning didn't seem like his usual self, as he walked Cade Beloso on a full count to start the half-inning. This was then followed up by Cade striking out Jared Jones on six pitches, with the count once again running full.

Austin then would throw a wild pitch to Jordan Thompson, allowing Beloso to advance to second and then walking Thompson to put two runners on. Braydon Jobert would then come on to pinch hit for Paxton Sling and lace a single to right field, loading up the bases before Gavin Dugas would step up and drill a first pitch fastball to left centerfield for a grand slam to notch things up at seven.

In the ninth inning, Eli Jones was brought onto the mound after pitching an efficient inning on Thursday night. Unfortunately for South Carolina, Jones was facing the heart of an LSU lineup that was tired of talking long arduous walks back to the dugout, as Dylan Crews, who had been extremely quiet to this point in the series, drew a walk. Crews then advanced to second on a groundout by Tommy White. 

A wild pitch by Jones would then allow Crews to advance to third, before Beloso would bring home Dylan on a single to give the Tigers' a one-run lead. Despite hitting a single and drawing a walk in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, Caleb Denny would put up a valiant fight at the plate before striking out swinging on a Gavin Guidry breaking ball.

With the loss, the Tigers have now evened the series with the Gamecocks, and we'll now look to see when Game three of the series could be played as inclement weather passes through Columbia this evening.

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