March 1, 2008
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Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina starting pitcher Mike Cisco allowed just one run in 7.1 innings of work and Reese Havens connected on a grand slam home run in the second inning as the third ranked Gamecocks defeated 13th ranked Clemson 10-1 on Saturday afternoon in front of 5,921 fans at Sarge Frye Field. Carolina improves to 4-1 on the year while the loss drops Clemson to 5-1 this season. Both teams meet on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium with first pitch set for 2 pm.
Cisco limited the Tigers to just eight hits and walked just one batter while striking out four to improve to 2-0 on the year. Carolina left-hander Will Atwood pitched 1.2 hitless innings to close out the game for the Gamecocks. Clemson starting pitcher Ryan Hinson suffered the loss and is 1-1 on the year. He worked six innings and allowed seven runs, one earned with five strikeouts.
South Carolina went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman outfielder Whit Merrifield laced a triple to the wall in right centerfield and scored on a RBI groundout courtesy of James Darnell.
The Gamecocks would add to that lead in the second inning with four runs off Hinson on Havens’ grand slam. Harley Lail reached base with one out on a throwing error by Clemson third baseman Kyle Parker. Carolina then loaded the bases as Kyle Enders singled and Scott Wingo was hit by a pitch with two outs setting the stage for Havens. On Hinson’s first pitch, Havens drilled a fast ball over the right centerfield wall to give the Gamecocks a five-run cushion. It was Havens first home run in nine games vs. the Tigers as well as his first runs batted in.
The five-run lead was increased to seven in the sixth inning as Justin Smoak reached base on a fielding error by right fielder Chris Epps along with a single by Lail. With runners on second and third and one out, Enders knocked a sacrifice fly to left field and Justin Hopper connected with a RBI base hit as Carolina took a 7-0 lead.
Clemson got one run back in the top of the seventh as Alex Lee drew a two-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on J.D. Burgess’ RBI double. With runners on first and third and two outs, Cisco got out of the jam with a fielder’s choice to Wilson Boyd to keep the Gamecocks on top by six runs.
South Carolina came back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Justin Smoak and Phil Disher each drove in runs with a base hit and fielder’s choice respectively. Carolina scored the 10th run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning as Justin Hopper doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Havens, his fifth RBI of the game, tying his career-high he set last week vs. East Carolina. Havens has a .526 average with four HR and 14 RBI after five games as well as 11 runs scored.
South Carolina finished with a 10-8 hit advantage. Havens, Whit Merrifield, Lail and Hopper each had two hits for the Gamecocks. Alex Lee finished 2-for-2 for the Tigers.
Sunday’s game can be heard live on GamecocksOnline.com and also on The Gamecock Radio Network including the flagship station, 107.5 FM “The Game.” Mike Morgan and Tommy Moody will have the call.
