April 10, 2002
COLUMBIA, SC – Chris Spigner and Blake Taylor combined on a five hit shutout Wednesday night with 13 strikeouts and seventh ranked South Carolina edged The Citadel 2-0 in a non-conference baseball game.
The Gamecocks improved their record to 25-8 and avenged a 5-1 loss two weeks ago to Bulldog left-hander Paul Williams at Charleston. The Citadel dropped to 19-13 and Williams’ record fell to 2-4. Spigner, 3-0, pitched seven innings and allowed three hits to get the win. He struck out 10 and walked one. Taylor picked up his eighth save of the season. He fanned three, walked one and allowed two hits.
South Carolina took a 1-0 second inning lead. Trey Dyson walked, moved to second base on an infield hit by Steve Thomas, and scored on a two out single by Landon Powell. The second Gamecock run scored in the eighth inning. Yaron Peters doubled, the only extra base hit of the game, and moved to third on a single by Dyson. A sacrifice fly by Thomas drove in Peters.
Powell and Brian Buscher had two hits apiece as South Carolina managed eight hits off three Bulldog pitchers. Williams gave up four hits and one run in six innings. He struck out three and walked two. The five Citadel hits were by five different players.
The Bulldogs managed two base runners in only two innings. Matt Dean and Josh Stackley singled with one out in the fourth but Spigner pitched out of that jam with a strikeout and a fly ball. Chip Cannon walked and Jon Aughley singled, sending Cannon to third base, with one out in the ninth inning.
Taylor picked Aughey off first base and retired Dean on a fly ball to center field to end the game.
The game was played in one hour and 56 minutes, by six minutes the fastest game played by South Carolina this season.
THE CITADEL 000 000 000 – 0-5-0
SOUTH CAROLINA 010 000 01x – 2-8-0
Williams, Hamer (7), R. Corn (80 and Randall. Spigner, Taylor (8) and Powell. W-Spigner (3-0). L-Williams (2-4). Save-Taylor (8). 2B-USC, Peter
