Arkansas Defeats South Carolina in SEC Baseball Opener, 12-2

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of South Carolina baseball team began its Southeastern Conference (SEC) road schedule with a disappointing 12-2 loss to No. 3 Arkansas on Friday, March 21, at Baum-Walker Stadium. The game, which ended in seven innings due to the mercy rule, saw the Razorbacks dominate throughout.

Arkansas struck first, scoring a run in the second inning, followed by a four-run explosion in the third. The turning point came when junior Logan Maxwell launched a two-run home run in the fourth inning, putting the Razorbacks firmly in control.

South Carolina managed to score its first run in the fifth inning, sparked by a walk from Dalton Mashore and a double from Talmadge LeCroy. Jordan Carrion contributed to the scoring with a groundout, bringing Mashore home. The Gamecocks added another run in the sixth after Nathan Hall’s single, followed by a double from KJ Scobey, which set up a wild pitch that allowed Hall to score.

However, Arkansas responded with a five-run seventh inning, sealing the game’s outcome. Starting pitcher Brandon Stone was charged with the loss after allowing five hits and three earned runs, while striking out three and walking three in three innings. Matthew Becker, who followed Stone, struck out six batters in 3.1 innings but surrendered five runs.

“We struggled to get the outs we needed early on,” Stone said after the game. “We have to learn from this and come back stronger tomorrow.”

The Gamecocks will look to rebound as they continue their three-game series with Arkansas on Saturday, March 22, at 3 p.m. EDT. The game will be available for streaming on SEC Network Plus.