Gamecocks' hot hitting leads to sweep over Florida

After securing their first series win over Florida since 2011, South Carolina came into Sunday’s series finale looking to sweep the No. 5 Gators.

Behind a hot-hitting lineup that sent multiple baseballs over the outfield wall, the No. 25 Gamecocks swept Florida with a 8-5 win.

After a solo home run in the top half, Florida took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second. However, South Carolina would not trail for long.

Wes Clarke, Andrew Eyster and Collin Burgess would each hit solo home runs to give the Gamecocks a 3-1 lead.

This marks Clarke’s 13thhome run of the season, the most of any player in NCAA Division 1.

South Carolina would extend its lead in the third to 4-1, as Brady Allen joined his teammates in hitting a solo home run of his own into the Gamecocks bullpen in right field.

Later in the sixth, now leading by just one run, South Carolina’s George Callil doubled to score two runs and push the Gamecocks ahead 6-3. A few swings later and Allen hit his second home run of the day, this one a two-run shot that traveled 413 feet, to give USC a commanding 8-3 lead after six.

Florida would attempt to mount a comeback in the eighth with a two-run double that cut the deficit to three runs, but South Carolina was able to close out the game on top and sweep the series.

Now with a series sweep over a top-five team in the country, South Carolina will look to build upon this weekend and carry the momentum through the rest of SEC play.

On Tuesday, the Gamecocks will host Gardner Webb at 7 p.m. before traveling to Athens, Georgia for a weekend series against the Bulldogs.