NASHVILLE (Interstat) — Ryker Waite hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning, the key blow as Vanderbilt defeated South Carolina 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

The Gamecocks jumped ahead 3-0 in the top of the second on an RBI single by Craddock and a run-scoring double from Luke Yuhasz that was aided by a center-field error. Vanderbilt answered in the fourth, scoring five times. After a sacrifice fly and a groundout trimmed the lead to 3-2, Waite launched his homer to right field, scoring three.

Vanderbilt used six pitchers, with Jacob Faulkner earning the win after four innings of two-run ball. Relievers Alex Kranzler, Miller Green, Aiden Stillman, Brennan Seiber and Nate Schlote combined for five scoreless innings, allowing no hits. South Carolina starter Cooper Parks threw 3 1/3 hitless innings with three strikeouts, but Riley Goodman allowed two runs in relief.

The Commodores improved to 32-23 overall, 32-23 in the Southeastern Conference, while South Carolina fell to 22-34. Vanderbilt completed a three-game series sweep, having won 9-5 on Friday and 9-1 on Thursday.