Vanderbilt believes what’s ailing its baseball team can be healed in an instant.

The No. 5 Commodores (28-10, 11-4 SEC) have lost four of their last five, including three in a row, for their worst stretch since 2012.

But heading to South Carolina (23-15, 6-9) for a three-game SEC series beginning Thursday (6:30 p.m./ESPNU), the defending national champion might not need a full weekend of wins to get back on track.

“I think one inning is enough to do that,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said. “I think momentum is enough to do that. If you feel anything positive moving in the right direction, boy, it can really carry some weight. Once you get that ball rolling, then Katy, bar the door.”

But that big inning has been elusive lately. Over the past five games, Vanderbilt has played 51 innings but scored more than one run in a single inning only three times, with a high of three runs in an inning.

The Commodores have averaged 3.6 runs over the past five games compared to 7.5 runs in the first 33. But even more optimistic than his coach, shortstop Dansby Swanson thinks Vanderbilt’s recent woes could end in a moment.

“I think you can even turn it around in one play,” said Swanson, who leads the team in batting average (.364), home runs (7) and RBIs (34). “We have been close over the past couple of weeks, but we just haven’t been able to blow it open yet. It just takes one good at-bat or a series of at-bats to really get the momentum and confidence up of the entire group.”

Swanson can perhaps say that with more confidence than his teammates. After all, the All-American has two doubles, two triples and two home runs during the five-game lull while most teammates have struggled.

“Panicking is not the right word because we know the capabilities inside our locker room,” Swanson said. “We have a strong group of guys. We just need to piece together some good at-bats and good starts.”

Vanderbilt’s pitching offers ample opportunity for a turnaround against the Gamecocks. Thursday’s starter, Carson Fulmer (6-1), tossed a shutout with a career-high 14 strikeouts against Ole Miss last week. And Friday’s starter, Walker Buehler (3-0), struck out a career-high 13 in eight innings in a no-decision, which ultimately ended in a 16-inning Vanderbilt loss.

As for Saturday’s starting pitcher, Corbin said, “We have one. I just don’t know who he is yet.”

Considering the recent losses have been close and this week is merely the midpoint of the SEC schedule, Corbin said urgency is in moderation.

“We don’t look at those losses, and say, ‘Holy cow, we just haven’t played good baseball.’ You are looking at three one-run losses and a two-run loss, so the margin of difference is small,” Corbin said. “What frustrates the kids is that they had opportunities to bang open every game.

“… But I think the basis of this program is about preparing yourself for moments like this when you say, ‘OK, we are going to get through this and learn to fight through it.’ If they are willing to battle, then nothing is insurmountable.”

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

NEXT SERIES

NO. 5 VANDERBILT (28-10, 11-4 SEC) at SOUTH CAROLINA (23-15, 6-9)

When: Thursday (6:30 p.m.), Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (noon)

TV: ESPNU (Thursday), SEC Network (Friday), ESPN2 (Saturday)

Radio: 560-AM, 95.9-FM