Brandon Murray allowed just one run on five hits in 5.1 innings of work with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
COLUMBIA, MO. -- No. 6 South Carolina fought back from an early three-run deficit and behind a 14-hit attack defeated Missouri 7-5 on Sunday in the final game of a three-game SEC baseball series. The Gamecocks improve to 18-6 and 4-2 in the SEC with the loss dropping Missouri to 18-6 and 5-1 in league play.
Freshman right-hander Brandon Murray gave the Gamecocks a quality relief outing, allowing just one run on five hits in 5.1 innings of work with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. He earned the win and is now 2-0 on the year.
Junior left-hander Vince Fiori allowed one run on one hit in two innings with two walks and two strikeouts for his second save of the season. Missouri reliever Austin Tribby suffered the loss and is 0-1 on the year. He allowed two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings.
Tied at 3-3 entering the top of the seventh inning, Kyle Martin reached base with a one-out double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch issued by Missouri reliever Andrew Schwaab.
Elliott Caldwell would drive in Martin with a RBI single to right field to give the Gamecocks a one-run lead. That lead extended with two more in the top of the eighth inning to give Carolina a 6-3 lead.
Jordan Gore led off with a walk and scored with two outs on a RBI single by Max Schrock. After a base hit by Kyle Martin put runners on the corners, Schrock would score on a wild pitch issued by Missouri reliever Bryce Mondes De Oca.
Missouri would cut the Gamecock lead to 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out, two-run double off the bat of Trey Harris. The Gamecocks would get one back though in the top of the ninth as Connor Bright reached on a fielding error by Missouri first baseman Zach Lavy and eventually scored after a pair of wild pitches.
After Fiori walked the leadoff batter to open the bottom of the ninth, the southpaw dug deep and retired the next three batters to seal the victory.
South Carolina's 14-hit effort featured a 4-for-5 day at the plate by Kyle Martin to tie a career-high in hits. Gene Cone, Max Schrock and DC Arendas added two hits apiece as well. Jordan Gore reached base four times and scored two runs also with three walks on the day.
