For the third consecutive SEC game, South Carolina baseball found itself in a deep hole early, needing a dramatic comeback.
But on Saturday, the magic ran out for the Gamecocks, as they fell to Vanderbilt, 8-1, knotting the series between the two teams and setting up a rubber match Sunday.
USC (25-18, 10-10 SEC) cracked the scoreboard for the only time all game in the first inning, as sophomore left fielder Carlos Cortes blasted a long, high shot into the right-field bleachers to give coach Mark Kingston's team a 1-0 lead. Cortes leads the Gamecocks with 11 home runs this season.