The University of South Carolina baseball squad saw its 2026 campaign cut short on Wednesday night, dropping an 11-6 decision to the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the SEC Tournament. The loss marks the Gamecocks' fifth straight defeat in the tournament against their SEC East rivals.
Third Inning Fireworks
Tennessee ignited the game with a six-run burst in the third inning, seizing a commanding lead. The Gamecocks answered back with three runs of their own, capitalizing on Patrick Evans' two-run triple and a squeeze bunt from Talmadge LeCroy that brought home a crucial run.
Evans proved to be the bright spot for South Carolina, finishing the night with a triple, a home run and three RBI. His bat kept the Gamecocks within striking distance, but the Volunteers answered with a pair of solo homers in the bottom of the eighth to pull away.
Late-Inning Heroics and Pitching Notes
Will Craddock added a two-run homer in the seventh inning, driving in Jake Randolph to narrow the gap, but Tennessee's late surge proved decisive. On the mound, Brandon Stone took the loss after surrendering five earned runs with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings, while reliever Zach Russell tossed 2.1 scoreless frames to limit further damage.
Craddock's freshman season concluded with a team-leading ten home runs, underscoring his impact despite the overall setback. The Gamecocks now sit at 1-4 all-time against the Volunteers in SEC Tournament meetings, a record that will fuel their offseason preparations.