South Carolina is thrashed by Auburn to start the weekend series.

The South Carolina Gamecocks walked into Plainsman Park on Friday night hoping to assert their place in the ever-competitive SEC baseball landscape. What unfolded instead was a nightmarish performance marred by poor pitching, defensive lapses, and a lack of offensive rhythm, as Auburn dismantled them in a lopsided 12-3 rout to open the weekend series.

The Tigers, fueled by a raucous home crowd and a masterclass on the mound from sophomore right-hander Chase Allsup, set the tone early and never let up. From the first inning, it was clear that this was Auburn’s night—and South Carolina never really looked like they belonged on the same field.

Friday’s series opener was not just a win for Auburn—it was a statement. The Tigers entered the series coming off a gritty midweek win and a renewed sense of purpose after weathering a difficult first half of the SEC schedule. Against South Carolina, they looked like a team clicking on all cylinders.

Auburn wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard. In the bottom of the first, senior first baseman Ike Irish worked a full count and roped a double into right-center. That hit sparked a four-run inning punctuated by Caden Green’s two-RBI single, which gave the Tigers a commanding early lead and rattled South Carolina starter Eli Jones.

Head coach Butch Thompson’s squad kept the pressure on, forcing Jones into long at-bats and capitalizing on every mistake. Auburn added two more runs in the third thanks to a towering two-run home run from freshman designated hitter Ty Caggiano, who has emerged as one of the most electric young bats in the conference.

By the end of the fourth inning, Auburn led 6-0, and the writing was already on the wall.

While the Auburn bats were punishing South Carolina’s pitching staff, Chase Allsup was dealing on the mound. The 6-foot-2 right-hander showcased why he’s considered one of the most underrated arms in the SEC, finishing with a career-high 10 strikeouts over seven dominant innings. He allowed just three hits, walked none, and kept the Gamecocks guessing with a fastball-slider combo that repeatedly froze hitters.

“He had everything working,” Butch Thompson said postgame. “His tempo, his poise, and his execution were all elite. When you see him throw like that, it gives this whole team confidence.”

Allsup didn’t allow a runner past second base until the sixth inning. By then, the damage had already been done.

For South Carolina head coach Mark Kingston, Friday’s game was a culmination of the worst tendencies his team has shown during its struggles in SEC play.

The Gamecocks were sloppy in the field, committing two costly errors—one of which led directly to a three-run fifth inning that ballooned Auburn’s lead to 9-0. Offensively, they looked completely out of sync. The Gamecocks struck out 14 times in the game and failed to mount any meaningful rally until the eighth inning, when the outcome was already out of reach.

“Our execution wasn’t there in any phase,” Kingston admitted postgame. “Auburn played clean, they played hungry, and we didn’t match their intensity. We’ve got to be better.”

Jones lasted just 3.1 innings, surrendering six runs (five earned) on eight hits. The bullpen didn’t fare much better, as five relievers combined to give up six more runs over the final 4.2 innings.

With the loss, South Carolina dropped to 9-11 in SEC play and 27-17 overall. It was their third loss in their last four games, and their sixth straight defeat on the road in conference play. The team came into the series needing a strong showing to solidify their NCAA Tournament hopes, but Friday’s result only raised more questions.

The Gamecocks’ offense has cooled off significantly from its midseason surge. After averaging 7.4 runs per game through March, they’ve averaged just 4.1 over their last ten outings. The lack of timely hitting and an alarming strikeout rate have left them vulnerable, especially against high-caliber pitching staffs like Auburn’s.

The pitching staff, meanwhile, has struggled with consistency. Injuries have thinned the bullpen, and the starting rotation has been a revolving door. Jones had been one of the few reliable arms left, which made Friday’s outing especially troubling.

Unless South Carolina can bounce back and take at least one of the remaining games in this series, they risk slipping even further down the SEC standings—something that would drastically impact their postseason seeding.

On the flip side, Auburn’s win was their third straight in conference play and moved them to 10-10 in the SEC. More importantly, it was another example of how the Tigers are peaking at just the right time.

After hovering around .500 for much of the season, Thompson’s group has found renewed energy over the past few weeks. The return to form of Allsup has given the rotation a major boost, while the lineup—led by Irish, Green, and freshman standout Caggiano—has delivered in clutch moments.

Auburn’s ability to play small ball, run aggressively on the bases, and string together quality at-bats has made them a nightmare for opposing pitchers. And when their starting pitching holds up, they’re capable of beating anyone in the country.

Friday’s win wasn’t just about beating a struggling South Carolina team—it was about building momentum for the final stretch of the regular season and making a push toward a regional host bid.

• Auburn Batting Line: 12 runs on 15 hits, 3 home runs, 3 stolen bases
• South Carolina Batting Line: 3 runs on 6 hits, 14 strikeouts
• Winning Pitcher: Chase Allsup (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 10 K)
• Losing Pitcher: Eli Jones (3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 4 K)

Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. South Carolina will send sophomore left-hander Veer Rathi to the mound, hoping to stop the bleeding. Auburn is expected to counter with junior southpaw Drew Nelson, who is coming off back-to-back quality starts.

For South Carolina, Saturday’s game is now a must-win—not just for the series, but potentially for their postseason aspirations. Kingston acknowledged that changes may be coming in the lineup and pitching usage as the team looks to avoid a series sweep.

“We’re going to regroup,” he said. “There’s still baseball left to be played, and we’ve got a lot of pride in that locker room.”

For Auburn, the message is simple: keep applying pressure.

If Friday’s dominant win is any indication, the Tigers are fully capable of running the table this weekend—and sending a message to the rest of the SEC in the process.

The difference between these two teams on Friday night was stark. Auburn looked energized, efficient, and ready for a postseason push. South Carolina, meanwhile, looked lost and unprepared for the moment. Whether this game serves as a turning point for either program remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Auburn’s performance was no fluke.

With the season entering its final month, the margin for error is razor-thin in the SEC. Auburn appears to be embracing that pressure. South Carolina, on the other hand, must find a way to respond—before it’s too late.