COLUMBIA, S.C. – A 2-1 Milwaukee lead was erased by a sixth-inning grand slam as the South Carolina Gamecocks came out on top with a 5-2 win in the opening game of a three-game series on Friday evening.
 
Gavin Theis had retired 11 batters in a row heading into the sixth before the Gamecocks loaded the bases with two down. Jase Woita connected on a line drive home run over the left field fence to put South Carolina up for good.
 
"We were in a tough fight all night, but we didn't capitalize offensively when we had the opportunities," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "We didn't put the ball in play with runners in scoring position and had too many strikeouts."
 
The Panthers left 14 runners on base throughout the game including a bases-loaded situation as Milwaukee looked to break through in the first.
 
"We need to execute on the offensive side of the ball a bit better if we want to come out victorious against a quality opponent," added Wegner.
 
After South Carolina was first to score on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second, Milwaukee came back up in the third and loaded the bases. Charlie Marion was up next and after replay review, was deemed to have been hit by a pitch to force in a run and tie the score at one.
 
Q Phillips then walked to chase home Justin Hausser, who had reached via catcher's interference giving Milwaukee a 2-1 lead.
 
Staked to a lead, Theis set down South Carolina in order through the next three innings.
 
After loading the bases in the fifth with one out, and getting a leadoff double in the sixth, the Panthers were still unable to add onto its one-run lead before the Gamecocks came up in the sixth.
 
South Carolina loaded the bases with two down in the bottom of the sixth before the one swing put the home team ahead by three runs at 5-2.
 
"Gavin threw the ball really well for us," said Wegner on his starting pitcher. "Ultimately it came down to one pitch, which wasn't a bad pitch, but was an even better swing by Woita."
 
Matthew Mueller came on in the seventh and stranded a pair on base and set down South Carolina in the eighth. Milwaukee stranded a runner in each inning over the final three frames as South Carolina won the game by three.
 
"Mueller did a nice job in his two innings and it's another great outing for him to build upon," Wegner concluded.
 
Tyler Bickers had a multi-hit game, while Phillips finished the game with a single and two walks. Caden Headlee had a double, while both Justin Hausser and Camden Kuhnke each had hits.
 
Theis struck out three batters over six innings of work, allowing all five South Carolina runs. Mueller finished the game allowing a walk and a hit with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Starting pitcher Dylan Eskew allowed both Milwaukee runs without allowing a hit, as he walked four and hit two batters. Tyler Pitzer struck out eight over four innings, while Zach Russell pitched two scoreless frames. Brendan Sweeney notched his third save of the year with a hitless ninth.
 
Milwaukee and South Carolina will meet for game two on Saturday with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. (CT) at Founders Park.