South Carolina baseball score vs. NC State: Live updates from NCAA Tournament regional
COLUMBIA — South Carolina baseball cruised to a 19-1 victory over Central Connecticut State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament regional Friday, and the Gamecocks look to stay hot in the winners' bracket.
No. 15 national seed South Carolina (40-19) will face 3-seed NC State (36-19) in the second round of the Columbia regional Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN+). The winner advances to the region championship Sunday (6 p.m., TV TBD), while the loser will play Sunday (noon, TV TBD) against 2-seed Campbell (45-14).
The Gamecocks are 22-35 all-time against NC State, though they won the last meeting 10-8 in 2019. The Wolfpack have won their regional five times since 2003, last in 2021. They were eliminated in the semifinals of the College World Series that year by eventual runner-up Vanderbilt.
South Carolina is expected to start right-handed pitcher Jack Mahoney, who has a 6-3 record and a 4.01 ERA. Right-hander Matt Willadsen will start for the Wolfpack with a 5-4 record and a 3.54 ERA.
ROUND 1 WIN: South Carolina baseball blows out Central Connecticut State 19-1 to open Columbia Regional
REGIONAL PREVIEW: Why South Carolina baseball will — and won’t — win Columbia NCAA Tournament Regional
NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET: 2023 NCAA baseball regional pairings: Full schedule, bracket, TV times
South Carolina baseball score updates vs. NC State: NCAA Tournament regional
Ninth inning
NC State 9th: Wolfpack get two on, but Chris Veach gets the save with a fly out and a ground out.
FINAL: South Carolina 6, NC State 3.
South Carolina 9th: A walk turns into a double play and a zero for the Gamecocks' 9th.
Eighth inning
NC State 8th: Wolfpack go down 1-2-3.
South Carolina 8th: A walk and wild pitch, but no runs.
Seventh inning
NC State 7th: Wolfpack get two runners on, but a GIDP ends the inning.
South Carolina 7th: Talmadge LeCroy is originally called safe at home on a close play. After review, he's out.
Sixth inning
NC State 6th: Wolfpack finally get busy on the basepaths and have broken through with three runs. Back-to-back-to-back singles includes a Cozart RBI hit. Chase Nixon's 2 RBI double makes this a game again. South Carolina 6, NC State 3.
South Carolina 6th: Will McGillis single is all in the Gamecocks' 6th inning.
Fifth inning
NC State 5th: Kalae Harrison hits into a double play to end the inning. Wolfpack lineup has not done much against Jack Mahoney.
South Carolina 5th: Will McGillis doubles, but is picked off at second base a few pitches later.
Four batters later, it is unraveling for NC State. Willadsen walks two and is replaced by Carson Kelly, who walks two more including a run. All with two out. South Carolina 3, NC State 0.
Gavin Casas' 2 RBI single breaks this one open. Michael Braswell follows with his own RBI single. South Carolina 6, NC State 0.
Fourth inning
NC State 4th: Jack Mahoney has retired 10 in a row.
South Carolina 4th: A 1-2-3 inning for the Gamecocks for the first time today.
Third inning
NC State 3rd: Second straight 1-2-3 inning. Mahoney has been very good.
South Carolina 3rd: The Braylen Wimmer Show. He hits a 2-run home run just over the left field wall. South Carolina 2, NC State 0.
Second inning
NC State 2nd: A 1-2-3 inning for Mahoney. Really good diving play in the inning by Braylen Wimmer.
OH MY @braylenwimmer08!!! #RoadToOmaha x 🎥 ESPN+ / @GamecockBasebll pic.twitter.com/fPnLoyu5q2
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 3, 2023
South Carolina 2nd: Willadsen has four strikeouts through two innings. Still scoreless.
First inning
NC State 1st: Jacob Cozart's groundball to first bounces over Gavin Casas' head and down the right field line. What an odd bounce.
Doesn't hurt the Gamecocks, though. Jack Mahoney strands two RISP with a fly ball out.
South Carolina 1st: Gamecocks are the visiting team today, so they will bat first against NC State righty Matt Willadsen. South Carolina gets a Braylen Wimmer walk but nothing else to open the game.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina baseball score vs NC State: Live updates