March 27, 2007
Elon, N.C. – Travis Jones went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and Trent Kline added four hits as South Carolina defeated Elon 10-6 on Tuesday evening in a non-conference game at Latham Park. South Carolina is now 22-4 on the year while the loss drops Elon to 14-13 this season. The Gamecocks have tallied at least 10 hits in seven straight games.
Junior pitcher Jordan Costner pitched three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. He is 3-0 on the year. Costner allowed just two hits and struck out three batters. Elon starter J.D. Reichenbach suffered the loss and is now 3-3 this season. He lasted only three innings and gave up six runs on six hits in defeat.
South Carolina got out of the gates early with two runs in the first inning. Harley Lail hit a leadoff single and would score on a home run from Justin Smoak, who launched his team-leading ninth round tripper of the season to right field to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead. The Phoenix would come back right away though with three runs in the first inning against Gamecock starter Arik Hempy. Ryan Addison doubled to tie the game at two apiece for the Phoenix in the bottom of the first inning and would score after he stole third base and advanced to home on a throwing error by catcher Trent Kline. Elon would increase its lead to 4-2 in the second inning as Zach Booker hit a solo home run.
South Carolina broke ahead in the fourth inning with six runs to take an 8-4 lead. The home run ball factored in for the Gamecocks again as Jones hit his second homer of the season, his first of the night. Robbie Grinestaff got things started with a single and advanced to second base on a walk to Andrew Crisp that set the stage for Jones. The Carolina second baseman drilled a 1-0 pitch from Reichenbach over the center field wall to put USC up by a run. The Gamecocks would then load the bases against Reichenbach, who would be pulled for Elon reliever Jesse Lewter. With two outs, Carolina designated hitter Phil Disher hit a line shot off the glove of Lewter. On the play, Lewter was able to field the ball and looked to get the third out but instead threw past first base allowing all three Carolina runs to score and giving the Gamecocks a four-run edge.
South Carolina would score twice more with a run in fifth inning and a run in the ninth. The run in the ninth inning was Jones’ second homer of the game, another shot to center field. Gamecock reliever Wynn Pelzer pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the game for the Gamecocks.
Six different Gamecock players tallied at least two hits (Disher, Jones, Havens, Lail, Kline, Smoak). Ryan Addison went 4-for-4 and Jordy Snyder tallied three hits to lead the Phoenix at the plate.
One of the nation’s top college baseball series of the weekend will take place at Sarge Frye Field when the Gamecocks host Vanderbilt beginning on Friday, Mar. 30 with first pitch at 7 pm. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 4 pm ET and will be televised on FSN South with Sunday’s game set for 1:30 pm ET.
