HOOVER, Ala. — Chase Davidson had two RBIs and three Georgia pitchers combined to contain South Carolina 4-2 Friday night and oust the top-seeded Gamecocks from the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The Bulldogs (30-29) still need to beat Florida twice to make the championship game, but have to win the first one to secure a winning record and be eligible for an NCAA regional. The Gamecocks (45-14) never overcame a 3-0 first-inning deficit.
Neither team scored after the third.
Georgia starter Blake Dieterich (3-3) went a career-long 6-1/3 innings while reliever Bryan Benzor stranded runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth. Closer Tyler Maloof got two straight groundouts and a strikeout in the ninth for his 17th save.
Davidson got things going with a two-run single in the first before South Carolina starter Colby Holmes (6-3) settled down.
UGA avoids elimination
No. 1 South Carolina ousted from tournament

