COLUMBIA, S.C. - Beginning a stretch of four straight games against nationally-ranked competition, Georgia Southern fell to No. 20 South Carolina by a 9-1 score in six innings on Wednesday evening in Columbia, S.C.

The Gamecocks moved to 13-3 on the season with the win, while Georgia Southern falls to 5-9. The Eagles will be next in action on Saturday, opening up Sun Belt Conference play with a doubleheader at No. 14 Louisiana in Lafayette.

South Carolina opened up the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first by Kenzi Maguire. A two-run double in the third inning by Katie Prebble pushed the Gamecock lead to 3-0, then both Maguire and Prebble added RBI singles in the fifth to make the score 5-0.

Georgia Southern got on the board in the top of the sixth as Mekhia Freeman drew a one-out walk, then Faith Shirley doubled to right center field to drive in Freeman and make the score 5-1. South Carolina then ended the game with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning.

Cayla Drotar (1-0) notched her first win of the season for the Gamecocks with three innings of hitless ball, walking two while striking out five. Kyliegh Richardson (1-2) took the loss for the Eagles in the circle, giving up four hits and three runs in three innings of work, walking one and striking out one.

"It's always difficult going on the road and playing a tough team like South Carolina," Georgia Southern Head Coach Kim Dean said. "But we're going to continue to use all of these games to prepare us for Sun Belt Conference play. We know these games are important and we continue to show up eager and excited to learn, to grow together and to get much needed experience under our belts. We will have a solid practice and film day tomorrow, and we can't wait to open up conference this weekend at Louisiana."