Quick recap: Gamecocks rally past Kentucky in Game 1

South Carolina hit the road to Lexington, Ky. For a key three-game series against Kentucky at Cliff Hagan Stadium. How did the Gamecocks fare?

FINAL: South Carolina 10, Kentucky 5.

LINESCORE

USC (36-9) – 001 404 001 = 10-11-0

UKY (27-19)- 300 011 000 = 5-9-2

WP – Clarke Schmidt (9-1)

LP – Zack Brown (2-9)

SV – NOne

HR – USC, Alex Destino (4th, 2 on), LT Tolbert (4th, none on), UK, Mahan (1st, two on);

RBI – Alex Destino (4), Jonah Bride (2), LT Tolbert (2), Madison Stokes (1).

LOB – USC 9, UK 6

A – 2,395

Time – 3:10

Gamecock Pitchers: Clarke Schmidt (6.2), Reed Scott (0.2), Josh Reagan (1.2).

HIGHLIGHTS

-- Gene Cone extended his hitting streak to 31 games with an infield single in the sixth inning.

-- The Gamecocks had outscored opponents, 45-13, in the first inning this season, but Kentucky scored three runs in the bottom of the first on a three-run homer with two outs off Clarke Schmidt, giving them a quick 3-0 lead. USC is now 6-4 when the opponent scores in the first inning.

-- USC’s comeback began in the top of the third despite a potentially disastrous base-running blunder by DTW when he was picked off second by the UK catcher. However, Jonah Bride delivered a two-out RBI double to shave UK’s lead to 3-1.

-- The Gamecock bats were booming in the top of the fourth. Freshman LT Tolbert began the festivities with a solo homer. Later, after a single, walk and fielder’s choice, Alex Destino walloped his sixth homer of the year over the CF fence to give the Gamecocks the lead for good at 5-3.

-- After Kentucky narrowed the gap to 5-4 with a solo homer, another four-spot by the Gamecocks in the top of the sixth pulled USC out of danger. The runs scored on a throwing error when DTW attempted a sacrifice, a groundout, RBI double by Bride and a sacrifice fly. By the time the surge ended, the Gamecocks enjoyed a 9-4 lead and they were never seriously threatened again.

-- Schmidt settled down after giving up the three runs in the first, allowing just one more run on five hits over his final 5.2 innings. He finished with eight hits and five runs allowed in 6.2 IP with seven strikeouts. Reed Scott got two outs before Josh Reagan made his first appearance since blowing the save against Florida and recorded the final five outs on 27 pitches. He retired the Wildcats in order in the bottom of the ninth. Gamecock pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts.

HOW THE RUNS SCORED:

UK 1st – White singled to right, Reks sacrificed (1-3), McNeill singled to left, Shelby struck out, Mahan homered to right (3 RBI), Becker grounded out to shortstop. 3 RUNS, 3 HITS (UK 3-0).

USC 3rd - DTW singled to center, Destino reached on error by 2B, DTW picked off at second (2-6), Jones struck out, Bride doubled down RF line (RBI), Stokes struck out. 1 RUN, 2 HITS (UK 3-1).

USC 4th - Cullen struck out, Tolbert homered down the RF line (RBI), Mooney singled to left, Cone walked, DTW reached on fielder's choice (4-6), Destino homered to center (3 RBI), Jones struck out. 4 RUNS, 3 HITS (USC 5-3).

UKY 5th – Carson popped to short, White lined to center, Reks homered to right (RBI), McNeill flied to right. 1 RUN, 1 HIT (USC 5-4).

USC 6th - Mooney singled to left, Cone singled to first base, DTW reached on error by pitcher on sacrifice bunt (Mooney scored on error), Destino grounded to second (RBI), Jones walked, Bride doubled to left (RBI), Stokes hit sacrifice fly to right (RBI), Cullen walked, Tolbert grounded into fielder's choice (4-6). 4 RUNS, 3 HITS (USC 9-4).

UKY 6th - Shelby singled to left, Mahan singled through the right side, Becker flied to center, Pompey hit sacrifice fly to left (RBI), Squires grounded out to first. 1 RUN, 2 HITS (USC 9-5).

USC 9th - Stokes walked, Cullen doubled down RF line, Tolbert hits sacrifice fly to right (RBI), Mooney grounded to second, Cone grounded to first. 1 RUN, 1 HIT)(USC 10-5).