South Carolina baseball and the postseason winner's bracket meet yet again.
A week after advancing to the SEC tournament semifinal, the Gamecocks (37-23) came back from a 7-4 deficit to win 8-7 on Friday against No. 3 seed James Madison in Game 1 of the NCAA Raleigh Regional.
South Carolina now faces tournament host NC State at Doak Field at 6 p.m. ET Saturday. The Wolfpack (34-20) defeated No. 4 seed Bryant on Friday night 9-2.
Against the Dukes (34-24), Cole Messina mustered a home run in the bottom of the ninth to send Blake Jackson home and tie the game at 7-7. Chris Veach stood strong in the 10th inning and Will Tippett's walkoff sacrifice fly secured the comeback victory.
USC VS JMU:Cole Messina home run helps save South Carolina baseball vs James Madison in NCAA regional
NC State and South Carolina played each other in last year's NCAA Regional when South Carolina hosted in Columbia. The Gamecocks won 6-3 and advanced to the super regional. Overall, they are 23-35 against NC State.
South Carolina score updates vs. NC State
FINAL: NC State 6, South Carolina 4
Dalton Reeves started the ninth inning with a leadoff single, but NC State relief pitcher Derrick Smith struck out the next two Gamecocks swinging. Dylan Brewer popped up to the catcher to end the game. South Carolina lost 6-4 and face elimination Sunday.
NC State 6, South Carolina 4 after eight innings
Dalton Reeves, who filled in at catcher for Cole Messina, looked to make a throw to second or third with a runner stealing second. Reeves chose third with Garrett Pennington safely at second. But the throw hit Matt Heavner in the back of his helmet as he dove to third and went over third baseman Talmadge LeCroy.
Heavner made it home and Pennington made it to third on the error, which gave NC State a 6-4 lead going into the final frame.
NC State 5, South Carolina 4 after seven innings
South Carolina made two pitching changes in the seventh inning but it didn't keep the game tied. NC State started the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff single off Connor McCreery, who relieved Garrett Gainey after six innings. Then McCreery walked Garrett Pennington.
After Alex Makarewicz flew out to left field, Matthew Becker relieved McCreery. Becker walked the bases loaded and then walked Alex Sosa to send a runner home and give NC State a 5-4 lead.
Dylan Brewer crushes second home run of the night to tie the game 4-4 in the seventh inning
Dylan Brewer watched the ball sail into right field before taking his jog around the bases. Talmadge LeCroy hit a leadoff double to start the seventh and Brewer brought him home with his second home run of the night.
Brewer is 2-for-3 on the night with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Mark Kingston tells ESPN that Ethan Petry has hairline fracture
South Carolina coach Mark Kingston said on the broadcast that star first baseman Ethan Petry was not playing due to a hairline fracture in his hand. Petry's left hand was hit by a pitch Friday, but he continued to play and finished the game.
NC State 4, South Carolina 2 after five innings
The Wolfpack got an insurance run immediately after South Carolina cut their lead to one run. Eli Serrano III hit a solo home run to right field in NC State's leadoff at-bat in the fifth inning to give the Wolfpack a 4-2 lead.
Dylan Brewer hits solo home run to cut NC State lead to 3-2 in fifth inning
Dylan Brewer hit a solo home run to right field with one out on the board in the fifth inning, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
South Carolina's hitting wasn't contagious. Will Tippett struck out swinging and then Austin Brinling flew out to center field to end the top of the fifth.
NC State 3, South Carolina 1 after three innings
Garrett Pennington immediately answered South Carolina's home run with his second homer of the night. This time Eli Serrano III was already on base and Pennington gave NC state the lead again with his two-run shot to right field.
Will Tippett ties up the game in the third inning
Will Tippett started off the third inning with a solo shot to left field to tie up the game 1-1.
The Gamecocks couldn't latch onto any momentum, though, with the next two hitters grounding out and striking out. Cole Messina drew a walk, but he was picked off at second base to end the top of the third.
NC State 1, South Carolina 0 after one inning
The Gamecocks went three up, three down to start the game. Then Garrett Pennington crushed a home run to left field to give the Wolfpack an early 1-0 lead.
PETRY OUT:South Carolina star Ethan Petry out with hairline fracture vs NC State in NCAA regional
Ethan Petry out after injury Friday
South Carolina star first baseman Ethan Petry was not in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup with NC State after his left hand was hit by a pitch Friday. Petry is the Gamecocks' second-best hitter and has hit a team-leading 21 home runs this season.
South Carolina baseball vs. NC State: Start time
- Date: Saturday, June 1
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
What channel is South Carolina baseball vs. NC State on today?
- Streaming: ESPN+ (subscribe here)
- Radio:Gamecock Sports Network
South Carolina baseball vs. NC State prediction
South Carolina 10, NC State 8: I think the Gamecocks take this one riding on energy and momentum. However, given the four errors versus the Dukes, there is no way South Carolina can beat the skilled Wolfpack team with defensive mistakes. With first game jitters gone and more hits to show than displayed against JMU, South Carolina can set itself up to win the region with a win over the top dogs but it will be difficult.
South Carolina baseball vs. NC State location
- City: Raleigh, N.C.
- Venue: Doak Field at Dail Park
South Carolina baseball vs. NC State lineups
This will be updated.
South Carolina baseball vs. NC State tickets
Tickets can be purchased through a third party atStubHub.com.
South Carolina baseball schedule 2024
The past five games for South Carolina baseball. For the full schedule,click here
- 5/2311-10 loss to LSU, SEC tournament
- 5/246-5 win over Kentucky, SEC tournament
- 5/2512-11 loss to LSU (10 innings), SEC tournament
- 5/29 8-7 win over JMU, NCAA Regional
- 6/1 vs NC State, NCAA Regional
NC State baseball schedule 2024
The past three games for NC State baseball. For the full schedule, click here
- 5/18 9-6 win over Wake Forrest
- 5/22 19-9 win over Virginia Tech, ACC tournament
- 5/23 8-1 loss to Duke, ACC tournament
- 5/31 9-2 win over Bryant, NCAA Regional
- 6/1 vs South Carolina, NCAA Regional
South Carolina baseball roster
View South Carolina baseball's rosterhere.
NC State baseball roster
View NC State baseball's roster here.
2024 NCAA Raleigh Regional schedule
All times are in ET
Saturday's games
Game 3:James Madison vs. Bryant, noon, ESPN+
Game 4:South Carolina vs. NC State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
2024 NCAA Raleigh Regional bracket
Friday’s games
Game 1:South Carolina def. James Madison 8-7
Game 2:NC State def. Bryant 9-2
Saturday's games
Game 3: James Madison vs. Bryant, noon, ESPN+
Game 4:South Carolina vs. NC State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Sunday's games
Game 5:Game 4 loser vs. Game 3 winner, noon; TV TBD
Game 6:Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.; TV TBD
Monday's game (if necessary)
Game 7:Game 6 winner vs. Game 6loser, TBD
2024 NCAA Raleigh Regional odds
- South Carolina -125
- NC State -105
- James Madison -350
- Bryant +250
2024 College World Series bracket
View thefullbrackethere.
- Super Regionals: June 6-8 or 7-9
- College World Series starts: June 14
- College World Series finals: June 22-24
MESSINA MAGIC:Why South Carolina baseball's Cole Messina was ready to play hero again in NCAA regional
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her atlkesin@gannett.comand follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
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