South Carolina baseball team tops No. 2 Texas in series opener

Gamecocks score 9 runs against the Longhorns in the SEC matchup

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college baseball game, with overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the field.South Carolina's decisive victory over the second-ranked Texas Longhorns showcases the Gamecocks' ability to compete with the SEC's elite baseball programs.Columbia Today

The South Carolina baseball team defeated the No. 2 ranked Texas Longhorns 9-1 in the opener of their three-game SEC series at Founders Park. The Gamecocks scored 5 runs in the second inning and added insurance runs later in the game, while the pitching staff held the Longhorns to just 6 hits on the night.

Why it matters

This win marks South Carolina's second victory over a top-5 ranked opponent this season, further establishing them as a formidable team in the SEC. The Gamecocks' strong offensive performance and solid pitching against the highly-ranked Longhorns demonstrates their ability to compete with the conference's elite programs.

The details

South Carolina put up a 5-run second inning, highlighted by a 2-run triple from Patrick Evans and a RBI double from Tyler Bak. The Longhorns scored a run in the third, but the Gamecocks responded with another run in the bottom half of the inning. Evans and Talmadge LeCroy added late-game home runs to provide additional insurance. The Gamecock pitching staff limited Texas to just 6 hits, with Zach Russell earning the win and Alex Philpott recording the save.

  • The game took place on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • The 5-run second inning occurred early in the game.

The players

Talmadge LeCroy

A South Carolina baseball player who hit a solo home run in the game.

KJ Scobey

A South Carolina baseball player who doubled in the 5-run second inning.

Patrick Evans

A South Carolina baseball player who hit a 2-run triple in the 5-run second inning and finished the game with a career-high 4 RBIs.

Tyler Bak

A South Carolina baseball player who hit a RBI double in the 5-run second inning.

Zach Russell

The South Carolina pitcher who earned the win, pitching 2.1 innings and striking out 4 batters.

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What’s next

The two teams will continue their three-game SEC series on Friday, April 3, 2026.

The takeaway

South Carolina's dominant performance against the highly-ranked Texas Longhorns demonstrates the Gamecocks' ability to compete with the best teams in the SEC. Their strong offensive output and solid pitching have them poised for a successful conference run.