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COLUMBIA- Junior right-hander Colby Holmes worked a season-high 8 1/3 innings and five different Gamecocks drove in at least one run as ninth ranked South Carolina defeated Mississippi State 6-4 on Sunday afternoon in front of 7,011 fans at Carolina Stadium to sweep a three-game SEC baseball series.  The Gamecocks are 27-10 and 8-7 in the SEC.

After two runs from Mississippi State in the top of the fifth inning gave the Bulldogs a one-run cushion, the Gamecocks were quick to answer back in their half of the frame as freshman Tanner English led off with a single to left field. Evan Marzilli delivered his second hit of the day to put runners on the corners for Walker.  Mississippi State starter Evan Mitchell would issue a free pass to Christian Walker to load the bases for Dantzler.  LB Dantzler tied the game with an RBI fielder’s choice to third, which resulted in all runners reaching safely, bringing Brison Celek to the plate. The sophomore delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to right to put the Gamecocks on top. Adam Matthews would finish off the scoring in the Carolina fifth with an RBI infield single, scoring Walker, giving the Gamecocks a 4-2 lead.

Holmes continued his solid work, holding the Bulldogs to just their two runs on 100 pitches, through eight innings. The Gamecock bats put together a rally in the bottom of the eighth to score some insurance runs.  Joey Pankake broke the game open with a two-run single that extended the Gamecock lead to four.

Holmes returned to the slab for the ninth to try and close out the Bulldogs. After giving up two hits to start the ninth, Holmes battled back to strike out first baseman Wes Rea. Slauter got one back for Mississippi State, however, with an infield single that scored Daryl Norris. Holmes’ day would end there, marking his longest outing of the season. The bases were loaded after a walk was issued by the new pitcher, Hunter Privette. The Gamecocks would then turn to their bullpen once more to try and end the Mississippi State attack. Junior left-hander Tyler Webb would shut the door on the Bulldogs, giving up a RBI groundout and a flyout to end the game.

Holmes allowed four runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out three batters.  He is 5-0 for the year.  Webb’s final two outs of the game earned him his second save of the year.

South Carolina reached double digits with hits finishing with 11 on the day.  Marzilli was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.  Vergason tied a season-high with two hits.  Pankake went 2-for-5 with two RBI and Matthews tallied two hits and a RBI as well.  C.T. Bradford, Mitch Slauter and Hunter Renfroe collected two hits apiece leading the Bulldogs at the plate.

South Carolina returns to action Tuesday night hosting College of Charleston at Carolina Stadium.  First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

(South Carolina sports information contributed to this report.)