COLUMBIA – South Carolina rallied from a 6-3 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Mississippi State 7-6 Friday night at Carolina Stadium.  Pinch-hitter Sean Sullivan tied the game with a two-out triple and scoring the winning run on a wild pitch.

The Gamecocks are now 25-10 and 6-7 in the SEC while Mississippi State drops to 21-13 and 5-8 in league play.  Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 4 p.m.

USC scored all four eighth-inning runs with two outs.  Grayson Greiner started the rally with his fourth home run of the year to make it 6-4 MSU.  Trailing by two runs, Adam Matthews followed with a base hit up the middle.  That ended the night for Mississippi State starter Chris Stratton as the Bulldogs elected to go to the bullpen for closer Caleb Reed. The hit parade continued as Brison Celek doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third base setting the stage for Sullivan.   Down 0-2 in the count, Sullivan lifted a fly ball into right field that got out of the grasp of a diving Brent Brownlee, scoring both runners and putting Sullivan on third base.   Sullivan then scampered home with the winning run as a wild pitch on a strikeout by Reed against Tanner English allowed Sullivan to score and English to reach first base.  With a 7-6 lead, the Gamecocks brought on right-hander Matt Price, who hurled a perfect ninth inning for a save and preserving the one-run victory.

Carolina starter Michael Roth got a no-decision.  He allowed five runs on five hits in 5 1/3innings with three walks and two strikeouts.  MSU starter Chris Stratton allowed five runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings with two walks and 11 strikeouts.