Feb. 28, 2009
Clemson, S.C. – DeAngelo Mack’s one-out homer in the top of the ninth inning broke a 1-1 tie and helped spark South Carolina to a 3-1 victory over 19th ranked Clemson on Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Not to be outdone was the Gamecock pitching staff that limited the Tigers to just two hits with senior left-hander Alex Farotto pitching 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the victory. Carolina is 4-0 on the year while Clemson drops to 4-1 for the season.
South Carolina has now defeated Clemson five straight games and in eight of the last nine contests between the two schools dating back to the 2007 season.
With the score deadlocked at 1-1 in the top half of the ninth Gamecock outfielder DeAngelo Mack knocked a 3-2 pitch from Clemson reliever Graham Stoneburner for a solo homer to left center pushing the Gamecocks ahead by a run. The solo homer was then followed by three straight hits by the Gamecocks including a RBI single by Bobby Haney to score Andrew Crisp and give Carolina a two-run edge. Farotto would close out the game in the ninth inning then for USC as he limited the Tigers to just one walk in the bottom half of the frame before recording the final two outs of the game.
Farotto, now 1-0 on the year, worked 2.2 shutout innings with two strikeouts and a walk. Stoneburner took the loss and is now 0-1 for the season. He lasted one inning allowing two runs on three hits.
The game was dominated by the pitcher’s most of the way as sophomore right-hander Sam Dyson threw a gem for the Gamecocks and was equally matched by Clemson senior right-hander Trey Delk.
Carolina broke ahead early 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Whit Merrifield knocked a one-out triple to left center and scored on a RBI double to left field off the bat of Jeffery Jones. For Merrifield, it was his second career triple and almost a year to date from his first career triple that came against Clemson on March 1, 2008.
Dyson, in his second start of the year for Carolina, retired the first 13 batters he faced before allowing a one-out double to right center by Wilson Boyd in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dyson was able to get out of the inning with the Tigers leaving a runner on base in scoring position as the Gamecock right-hander was able to get Jeff Schaus and Brad Miller both with strikeouts looking to end the threat.
The Tigers would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Matt Sanders drilled a fastball from Dyson over the left centerfield wall to knot the game at one apiece. It was the first run allowed by Dyson after 10.1 innings of scoreless work to start the year. Dyson’s outing was 6.1 innings and he allowed just the one run on two hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
The game remained 1-1 until the ninth inning but it wasn’t without its tense moments as Clemson loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out when head coach Ray Tanner summoned Farotto from the bullpen. After getting ahead with two strikes against Clemson’s John Nester, Farotto got the Gamecocks out of the inning as he coaxed Nester into a 5-4-3 double play to preserve the 1-1 tie.
Carolina out-hit Clemson 9-2 with Parker Bangs and Justin Dalles with two hits apiece for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina and Clemson will continue the series on Sunday afternoon back in Columbia with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Carolina Stadium. A live video broadcast and live gametracker stats will be available at GamecocksOnline.com. The game can also be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network including flagship station 107.5 FM in Columbia.
