Gamecocks rally to beat Texas A&M

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - South Carolina rallied from a two-run deficit to beat Texas A&M 3-2 Thursday at Carolina Stadium.

LB Dantzler's two-run double in the sixth inning brought Gamecocks back from two runs down and Graham Saiko followed up in the seventh inning with a fielder's choice to drive in a run as No. 14 South Carolina rallied to beat the Aggies in the opener of a three-game SEC series.

The Gamecocks improve to 20-6 and 3-4 in the SEC while the loss drops Texas A&M to 18-9 and 5-2 in league play.

Adam Westmoreland improved his record to 2-0 on the year and Tyler Webb would register his ninth save of the season.  Westmoreland hurled 3.2 scoreless innings of relief and struck out seven batters, a season-high to earn the win.  Webb allowed just one hit while striking out four batters.

As a team, the Gamecocks struck out 17 batters in game one of the series, and did not surrender a run after the fourth inning.

Texas A&M reliever Jason Freeman suffered the loss and is 1-1 for the season.  He allowed one run on two hits in 0.2 innings.

The Gamecocks had the first 12 strikeouts of their eventual 17 in the first six innings but trailed 2-0.  Evan Beal started strong striking out five of the first six batters he faced, but left after allowing single runs in the third and fourth innings.

Carolina won despite being out-hit 10-5 in the contest.  Dantzler went 2-for-3 to lead Carolina at the plate. 

The series continues Friday at Carolina Stadium, first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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