Tigers lose finale to Gamecocks

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Gamecocks salvaged the final game of a three-game set with the Missouri Tigers by posting a 7-5 win in baseball action Sunday.

Missouri, which took the first two games of the series with wins Friday and Saturday, jumped ahead 3-0 after one inning of Sunday's game. But South Carolina came back with two runs in the third and one in the sixth to tie it, then went ahead with a run in the seventh.

Both teams scored two runs in the eighth to make it 6-5 in favor of the Gamecocks, and South Carolina added an insurance run in the ninth.

The Gamecocks outhit the Tigers 15-3 in the game.

Zach Lavy and Trey Harris had a double and two RBI apiece to pace Missouri.

Austin Tribby, the second of five Missouri pitchers, took the loss. After starter Peter Fairbanks gave up just two earned runs while scattering eight hits in five innings, Tribby allowed two earned runs on three hits and one walk in 11/3 innings.

The Tigers are now 18-6 overall and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference, while the Gamecocks are 18-6 and 4-2.

On Saturday night, the Tigers outscored the Gamecocks 2-1 in the 10th inning to emerge with a 4-3 victory.

In the 10th, Josh Lester had a sacrifice fly to tie it at 3 before Harris drove in the winning run with a two-out single.

South Carolina scored its two runs in the second before Missouri tied it with tallies in the seventh and eighth innings.

Tanner Houck pitched a stellar game for the Tigers but got a no-decision. He scattered eight hits across eight innings, striking out eight while walking none and giving up two earned runs.

Breckin Williams got the win in relief, pitching two innings and giving up one earned run on two hits while walking one and striking out three.

The Tigers return to action at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday when they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff.