COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina leadoff batter Gene Cone went 5-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Gamecocks to a 9-2 win against Missouri in baseball action Sunday.
Cone racked up two singles, two doubles and one triple to finish a home run short of hitting for the cycle.
He had nearly as many hits as Missouri did, as the Tigers were outhit 16-7 in the contest.
No. 12 South Carolina never trailed, getting two runs in the first inning, one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the sixth to go up 6-0. In a busy eighth innings, the Tigers scored two runs and the Gamecocks answered with three.
Trey Harris had two hits and one RBI to lead Missouri. Connor Brumfield went 2-for-3 as the leadoff batter and Zach Lavy had one hit and one RBI.
Michael Plassmeyer (3-4), the first of six Missouri pitchers, took the loss. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out three.
Missouri is now 20-21 overall and 4-14 in the Southeastern Conference, while South Carolina is 33-8 and 14-4.
The Tigers will host Missouri State at 6 p.m. Tuesday.