COLUMBIA — South Carolina baseball is hosting its first NCAA Tournament regional as a top-16 team since 2016, but the Gamecocks don't have any easy path as the No. 15 national seed.
South Carolina (39-19) opens its tournament against 4-seed Central Connecticut State (36-12) at Founder's Park on Friday (7 p.m., ESPN+). The winner advances to face the winner of Game 1 between 2-seed Campbell and 3-seed NC State (6 p.m., TV TBD), while the losers will play in an elimination game Saturday (noon, TV TBD).
The Gamecocks earned a host site despite ending the regular season on four straightSEC serieslosses and being eliminated by unranked Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament. Still, South Carolina's resume includes a 20-15 record against top 50 opponents and a No. 5 ranking in the RPI.
The program is 10-2 all-time in region championships when hosting, and only one of the two losses came when the Gamecocks were the top seed. South Carolina is 26-7 at Founder's Park this season and only dropped two home series.
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South Carolina baseball score vs Central Connecticut: Live updates from NCAA Tournament regional
Ninth inning
Central Connecticut 9th: CCSU cannot push across a run after a walk.
FINAL: South Carolina 19, Central Connecticut State 1
Eighth inning
South Carolina 8th: The Gamecocks can do nothing with two walks in the 8th. They don't have to do anything, for what it's worth.
Central Connecticut 8th: Jimmy Sullivan triples, then scores on a wild pitch. South Carolina 19, Central Connecticut 1.
Seventh inning
South Carolina 7th: A Talmadge LeCroy single is all in the Gamecocks' 7th.
Central Connecticut 7th: A 1-2-3 inning.
Sixth inning
South Carolina 6th: A 1-2-3 inning.
Central Connecticut 6th: James Hicks is done after 62 pitches. Hicks finishes with 5 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out 6. Will Sanders into the game to pitch for USC.
Several defensive substitutions, too. McGillis, Wimmer and Petry will get an early rest. Gavin Casas was subbed out in the 5th. All appear fine and will get some rest ahead of Saturday's game against NC State.
Fifth inning
South Carolina 5th: Braylen Wimmer leads off with a single, and Ethan Petry hits one over everything in left. My goodness. Gamecocks 18, CCSU 0.
Jonathan French RBI single. South Carolina 19, Central Connecticut 0.
Bases are loaded again after an error, a walk and a single. For you still reading, props. It's OK if you want to come back tomorrow.
Back-to-back strikeouts end the inning.
Central Connecticut 5th: A 1-2-3 inning as James Hicks continues to pitch well.
Fourth inning
South Carolina 4th: Gavin Casas has a 2-RBI single with the bases loaded to add to the Gamecocks' lead. Casas is 3-3. South Carolina 7, Central Connecticut 0. Pitching change.
Dylan Brewer drives in two more South Carolina runners with a single. South Carolina 9, Central Connecticut 0.
Braylen Wimmer walks and drives in another run. This has been a barrage by the Gamecocks lineup. South Carolina 10, Central Connecticut 0.
Cole Messina hits a 2 RBI double down the left field line. South Carolina 12, Central Connecticut 0.
Michael Braswell clears the bases with a 3 RBI double to left. A long night for the visitors. Another pitching change. South Carolina 15, CCSU 0.
A reminder: The Gamecocks left the bases loaded in the first two innings.
Will Tippett drives in another run with a single. South Carolina 16, Central Connecticut 0.
Will McGillis finally ends the inning with a strikeout. An 11-run 4th.
Central Connecticut 4th: Another 1-2-3 inning. South Carolina in control.
Third inning
South Carolina 3rd: Talmadge Lecroy leads off the 3rd with a double down the left field line. Gavin Casas drives him in with an RBI double. South Carolina 2, CCSU 0.
McGillis sends a deep drive to left field. It appeared to hit off the top of the wall and possibly a railing, but it is ruled as a double and two RBI. Under review. It's overturned. McGillis with a 3-run home run. South Carolina 5, CCSU 0.
Central Connecticut 3rd: James Hicks has 6 strikeouts through three innings. 1-2-3 3rd for CCSU.
Second inning
South Carolina 2nd: Gavin Casas singles to leadoff the inning, and Dylan Brewer gets an infield single in between the mound and first base. Will McGillis then walked to load the bases with one out. Braylen Wimmer struck out, but Ethan Petry walked on four pitches to bring in the game's first run. South Carolina 1, CCSU 0.
Central Connecticut 2nd: South Carolina third baseman Talmadge Lecroy had a busy inning. He misplayed a hot grounder to third before making a good play on a popped-up bunt attempt. Nothing else for CCSU there.
First inning
South Carolina 1st: Will McGillis leads off with a single, but he's caught in a rundown after stealing on a pickoff attempt and is thrown out at second base. The Gamecocks load the bases with a walk and consecutive HBPs, but Michael Braswell grounds out to short to end the inning.
Central Connecticut 1st: James Hicks, the righthander, is South Carolina's starting pitcher.
A 5-4-3 double play ends the inning. Hicks works around a leadoff HBP.
