March 4, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – Trent Kline’s one-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted fourth ranked South Carolina to a 3-2 win over second ranked Clemson on Sunday afternoon in front of 5,913 fans at Sarge Frye Field. The win lifts the Gamecocks to 10-1 on the year while the loss drops Clemson to 7-3 this season. Sophomore reliever Will Atwood pitched one scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win. South Carolina returns to action on Tuesday night with a trip to Charleston, S.C. to face the College of Charleston. Tuesday’s first pitch is set for 6 pm with the game being played at Joe Riley Park.
With the game tied 2-2 in the ninth inning, Carolina’s James Darnell got things started drawing a leadoff walk. His walk was followed up by a sacrifice bunt by Steven Reinhold. With one out and first base open, the Tigers elected to intentionally walk Jon Willard bringing Trent Kline up to bat with two runners on and just one out. Kline drilled a hard hit 3-1 pitch from Clemson reliever Daniel Moskos that got by shortstop Taylor Harbin for a single and scored Darnell with the game-winning run. Moskos suffered the loss after working 1.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits with three walks. He is 2-1 this season.
Clemson had eight hits on the afternoon with the Gamecocks finishing with seven. Andy D’Alessio and Marquez Smith each had two hits for the Tigers. Carolina was led by Phil Disher and Kline who each had two hits apiece.
South Carolina drew first blood in Sunday’s contest with a run in the first inning. Disher knocked a one-out RBI base hit up the middle that scored Travis Jones and gave the Gamecocks a one-run edge. The game would remain that way for the next five innings as both Carolina starting pitcher Mike Cisco and Clemson starter Ryan Hinson kept both offenses at bay. The Tigers would finally get to Cisco in the seventh inning on a RBI base hit from Marquez Smith. Cisco finished the game with 6.2 innings of work allowing just one run on five hits. Hinson would leave the game after six innings and allowed just one run on four hits for the Tigers.
Both teams would trade runs in the eighth inning. Clemson went ahead on a RBI base hit from Addison Johnson, but the Gamecocks rallied in the bottom half courtesy of a two-out RBI double from Phil Disher that scored Lonnie Chisenhall.
Disher continues to lead the Gamecocks at the plate with a .429 batting average. He drove in six runs in the two-game series with the Tigers including four yesterday in the 12-0 win at Clemson.
Tuesday’s game vs. the College of Charleston will be broadcast live on uscsports.com with Tommy Moody and Tom Price calling the action.
