After a disappointing loss to VMI to open the season on Friday, South Carolina baseball coach Mark Kingston said his team played well but needed two things to win moving forward — patience at the plate, especially with two strikes, and better starting pitching.
On Saturday afternoon, the Gamecocks (1-1) got both, and sure enough, they came away with their first win of the year, topping the Keydets (1-1) 7-2 at Founders Park.
Leading the charge at the plate, senior third baseman Jonah Bride got things started quickly in the bottom of the first. After the first three hitters in South Carolina’s lineup combined for two walks and a single, loading the bases in the first inning on two walks and single, Bride slapped a ground ball into left field, scoring two.