COLUMBIA – Tennessee rallied with single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings on the way to a 5-4 win over South Carolina on Friday evening in front of 8,242 fans at Carolina Stadium. Tennessee is now 20-10 and 6-4 in the SEC with the loss dropping Carolina to 21-9 and 3-7 in league play.
Christian Walker's two-run single gave the Gamecocks a 4-3 in the sixth inning. In the top of the eighth inning, UT's Zach Luther led off with a double to the gap in left-center. After a walk to Drew Steckenrider, both runners were sacrificed over into scoring position. Luther would score the tying run on a RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Chris Fritts.
With the score deadlocked at 4-4 in the top of the ninth, Zach Osborne singled with one out and advanced to third on Will Maddox’s base hit to right field. Luther was down to an 0-2 count against Gamecock reliever Matt Price and still attempted to a squeeze bunt. On the bunt, Luther popped up to Price for the second out. The Gamecock right-hander attempted to double off Osborne at third base but his throw sailed just high and off the glove of Gamecock shortstop Joey Pankake and Osborne scurried home with the go-ahead run. Tennessee closer Nick Blount pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
For the Gamecocks, Evan Marzilli was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Grayson Greiner had two hits as well.
The second game of the series is set for 8 pm Saturday. It will be televised on ESPNU.
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