March 25, 2008
 |
Columbia, S.C. – Bobby Hubbard’s two-out double in the top of the eighth inning scored two runs and helped lift Furman to a 4-2 win over South Carolina on Tuesday evening at Sarge Frye Field. Furman improves to 12-8 on the year while the loss drops the Gamecocks to 15-6 this season. Carolina returns to action on Wednesday evening hosting College of Charleston at 7 pm with live video broadcast available at gamecocksonline.com and live audio on the radio on 107.5 FM.
With two outs and no runners on base, Furman’s Marcus Rose singled off of Carolina reliever Craig Thomas and Joey Rodgers was hit on 1-1 pitch from reliever Curtis Johnson to give the Paladins a pair of runners. Hubbard then delivered on another 1-1 pitch from Johnson with a double to right field to score both runners and give Furman a 4-2 lead. The Gamecocks looked to mount a rally in the ninth inning as Phil Disher singled with Reese Havens and Whit Merrifield adding base hits to load the bases for Carolina. James Darnell laced a 3-1 pitch from Furman close Nick Karow only to see the line drive caught by second baseman Marcus Rose. Karow then got Justin Smoak to ground out to second base to end the game and preserve the Furman victory
Furman reliever Ian Parry earned the win and is 2-1 on the year. He allowed no runs on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Karow worked the final 1.1 innings to pick up his third save. He allowed just three hits in his outing. Thomas suffered the loss and is 0-1 on the year.
South Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning with Havens getting to Furman starter Kevin Gaid with a solo home run to lead off the frame. In a full count, Havens blasted his sixth home run of the season over the center field wall to put the Gamecocks on top by a run. South Carolina has now homered in 20 of 21 games this year.
The lead increased to 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning as the Gamecocks took advantage of a Paladin error. Havens drew a one-out walk to get things started. On a two-out infield single from James Darnell, Furman third baseman Bobby Hubbard threw wide of first base allowing Havens to score all the way from first base.
A Gamecock miscue would lead to the Paladins tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Campbell Lewis had a leadoff walk followed by a single from Matt Hemingway to get things started for Furman. Jay Jackson then laid down a sacrifice bunt and would reach base on a throwing error by Gamecock third baseman James Darnell. The error would score Lewis for Furman. Reese Wade then delivered a RBI single to score Hemingway. With runners on the corners, South Carolina starting pitcher Godwin got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to limit the damage and preserve the tie.
Furman out-hit the Gamecocks 12-10 with Reese Wade tallying four hits and Hubbard and Hemingway adding two apiece as well. Havens led the gamecocks with three hits with Merrifield finishing with two as well. Andrew Crisp extended his hitting streak to 14 games with James Darnell extending his to a season-high nine games.
