A new era begins in style for USC
COLUMBIA – The University of South Carolina baseball team picked up a run in both the seventh and eighth innings, breaking a 3-all tie to give the Gamecocks a 5-3 win on Opening Day Friday afternoon (Feb. 14) at Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park. Head Coach Paul Mainieri picked up his first win in a Gamecock uniform and now has 1,506 career victories.
Carolina scored runs in each of the first three innings, scoring on a passed ball in the first, a wild pitch in the second and an Ethan Petry home run to straightaway center field in the third. Sacred Heart tied the game at three in the sixth with a pair of runs before Carolina plated two to pick up the win. Henry Kaczmar singled up the middle to score Blake Jackson in the seventh. Nolan Nawrocki then sent home pinch runner Evan Stone with a single to left field in the eighth.
Carolina pitching struck out 16 batters in the win. Dylan Eskew, making the Opening Day start, struck out nine, allowing three hits and a run in five innings of work. Parker Marlatt earned the win, striking out five in 2.2 innings while Brendan Sweeney picked up his first save at Carolina, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth on six pitches. Nathan Hall led Carolina with two hits in the win.
POSTGAME NOTES • Carolina is now 92-41 all-time in season openers and has won its last six lidlifters. • Petry moves into a tie for fourth place on Carolina's career home run list. He now has 45 home runs, tying with Jeff Parnell (1990-93). • Eskew set a career best with nine strikeouts. His previous career high was six set last season in the first weekend against Miami (Ohio). • Marlatt is now a perfect 4-0 in his Carolina career. UP NEXT Carolina continues the three-game series with Sacred Heart on Saturday, Feb. 15. First pitch is at 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus. Before the game, there will be a ceremony dedicating the field to former Gamecock head coach and athletics director Ray Tanner.
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