COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning and went on to defeat Appalachian State University baseball, 11-1, on Tuesday evening at Carolina Stadium. The game was halted after seven innings due to rain and lightning.

South Carolina's first three batters all recorded hits and the Gamecocks went on to bang out five hits and send 12 men to the plate in the six-run first. Appalachian State starting pitcher Sean Mason also hit two batters and second baseman Dillon Dobson committed the first of the Mountaineers' four errors in the fateful first inning.

The six runs were twice as many as Appalachian State (10-24) had allowed in any opening frame this season. The Mountaineers came into the contest having surrendered only 21 first-inning runs in 33 games this season.

South Carolina (22-11) scored a single run in the third inning and four in the fourth to stretch the advantage to 11-0.

The Mountaineers plated their only run in the seventh when Michael Pierson's hard-hit grounder ricocheted off USC second baseman Max Schrock's glove and into center field, allowing Brian Bauk to score from second base.

Pierson's RBI single highlighted six hits for Appalachian State. Bauk had the Mountaineers' lone extra-base hit with a double down the right-field line in the third.

Leadoff hitter Gene Cone went 3-for-3 with three RBI to lead South Carolina's 14-hit attack.

Appalachian State returns to action this weekend with a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at South Alabama. The series begins on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Eddie Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala.