Box Score COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a battle of freshmen pitchers making their collegiate debuts, South Carolina's Adam Hill outdueled Appalachian State University's Breydan Gorham and the 24th-ranked Gamecocks shut out App State baseball, 5-0, on Tuesday afternoon at Founders Park.

Gorham surrendered just two hits and struck out five in four innings of work for Appalachian State (0-4) but Hill was even better for South Carolina (4-0), striking out 11 and allowing only two hits over six innings. Gorham allowed three runs (two earned) to suffer the tough-luck loss.

In all, South Carolina only managed five singles against four Mountaineer pitchers but the Gamecocks made the most of their opportunities, scoring two runs on sacrifice flies and another on an error. Although App State only issued three walks, three of South Carolina's five runs were scored by runners that reached base via walk or being hit by a pitch.

Appalachian recorded four hits against three USC pitchers but didn't have a runner advance past first base until the ninth inning. Freshman Colin Schmid had two of the Mountaineers' four hits.

After dropping all four games of a grueling season-opening road trip (three of the four defeats came against nationally ranked opponents), Appalachian State opens the home portion of its schedule this weekend when it hosts a four-game series versus Quinnipiac. Game times are set for 3 p.m. Friday, a noon doubleheader on Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.