Sunday Recaps: South Carolina and Tennessee Take Road Series

South Carolina and Tennessee posted series-clinching wins on Easter Sunday. South Carolina wrapped up the weekend with its first series win in Athens since 2010. Tennessee closed out its series at Alabama with a 9-8 win. Both teams dropped the series opener on Friday and then rebounded to win the next two games.

PLAYER OF THE DAY:

Tennessee designated hitter Liam Spence and first baseman Luc Lipcius reached base in all 10 plate appearances in the 9-8 win over Alabama. The do combined for five hits, five walks and four RBIs in the series-clinching win. Spence went 2-for-2 with three walks, two runs scored and one RBI from the leadoff spot. Lipcius went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks.

PITCHER OF THE DAY:

South Carolina right hander Will Sanders pitched eight strong innings for his fifth win over the season as the Gamecocks wrapped up a road series win with a 5-1 victory Georgia. Sanders limited the Bulldogs to one run and eight hits in eight-plus innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. He left the game with runners at second and third and no outs in the ninth inning. The Gamecocks called on former starter Julian Bosnic, who retired the next three Georgia hitters for his first save.

LEADOFF HOME RUNS:

Alabama second baseman Peyton Wilson and South Carolina centerfielder Brady Allen both hit leadoff home runs on Sunday. Wilson smacked his SEC-leading fourth leadoff home run off Tennessee starter Blade Tidwell in the first inning. Wilson deposited a 0-1 fastball over the left field wall. Allen cracked an opposite field home run over the right field wall on the first pitch of the game off Georgia starter Jonathan Cannon. It was the first leadoff home run by a South Carolina player since 2018.

SUNDAY RECAPS:

South Carolina 5, Georgia 1 (Athens)

Records: Georgia (18-9, 3-6 SEC); South Carolina (19-7, 6-3 SEC)

Series: South Carolina won series, 2-1

 South Carolina right hander Will Sanders pitched eight strong innings for his fifth win over the season an Allen belted two home runs as the Gamecocks wrapped up a road series win 5-1 at Georgia. It was the Gamecocks first series win in Athens since 2010.

He limited the Bulldogs to one run and eight hits in eight-plus innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. He left the game with runners at second and third and no outs in the ninth inning. The Gamecocks called on former starter Julian Bosnic, who retired the next three Georgia hitters for his first save.

Sanders replaced Bosnic in the weekend rotation against Florida, after Bosnic was used in an extended relief role in the 14-inning win over the Gators in the series opener.

It worked against Georgia too.

Allen was the hitting star belting a pair of home runs. He blasted an opposite field home run to right on the first pitch of the game against Georgia starter Jonathan Cannon. Allen smacked a two-run home run to dead center field in the fifth inning.

Allen leads the Gamecocks with five home runs in SEC play, and all five homers have come in the final game of the SEC series. Overall, Allen is second on the team with eight home runs.

South Carolina catcher Colin Burgess added solo home run and sac fly in the win.

Tennessee 9, Alabama 8 (Tuscaloosa)

Records: Alabama (16-11, 2-7 SEC); Tennessee (24-5, 7-2 SEC)

Series: Tennessee won series, 2-1

Spence and Lipcius were the perfect combination in Tennessee’s 9-8 series-clinching win at Alabama.

The duo reached base in all 10 plate appearances, including five hits and five walks in the series-clinching win. Spence went 2-for-2 with three walks, two runs scored and one RBI from the leadoff spot. Lipcius went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks.

Tennessee led 9-5 in the eighth inning and held off two Crimson Tide rallies to get the series win.

Alabama catcher Sam Praytor hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to cut the lead to 9-7. UA had runners and second and third with one out in the ninth before Sean Hunley retired the final two batters for his third save.

Tidwell picked up his fourth win despite allowing five runs and nine hits in five-plus innings.

Tennessee also made three errors.

UT had nine runs and 15 hits in the game against five different Alabama pitchers. The Vols also took advantage of nine walks.

Alabama struggled on the mound all weekend. The Tide’s three starters managed only 11 total innings in the three games. UA pitchers also issued 24 walks in the series.