Feb. 23, 2002
MYRTLE BEACH, SC –
Yaron Peters and Garris Gonce homered and South Carolina used 12 hits Saturday to defeat Georgia Tech 8-3 in a a showdown of nationally ranked unbeaten teams in the Baseball at the Beach tournament.
Fifth ranked South Carolina improved to 8-0 while eighth ranked Georgia Tech dropped to 7-1. David Marchbanks, 3-0, pitched six innings, allowing five hits and all three Yellow Jacket runs to get the win. Jeff Watchko, 2-1, took the loss. Blake Taylor pitched three scoreless innings and weathered a bases loaded ninth inning threat to earn his second save of the season.
South Carolina faces host Coastal Carolina at 3 p.m., Sunday in the final game of the three day tournament at Coastal Federal Field.
South Carolina took control of the game with three runs in the top of the first inning on infield singles by Jon Coutlangus and Peters, a hit batter, an error and a fielder’s choice. A walk, two stolen bases by Tyler Parker and a sacrifice fly scored a Georgia Tech run in the second inning. There were also two hits but two runners were left on base.
The Gamecocks added single runs in the second, third and sixth innings to lead 6-1 before Georgia Tech scored twice in the bottom of the sixth. Peters hit his second home run of the season in the third inning. He also had a seventh inning single for a three hit day. Gonce hit his fourth home run in the seventh inning.
A walk, a triple by Parker and a hit by Brandon Boggs produced the two sixth inning Georgia Tech runs.
South Carolina added two insurance runs in the ninth inning. Drew Meyer tripled and scored on a hit by Justin Harris. Harris stole second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trey Dyson.
Georgia Tech loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth on a walk and singles by Brandon Boggs and Clifton Remole. Taylor pitched out of the jam by retiring pinch hitter Jeremy Slayden on a pop fly and Eric Patterson hit into a double play to end the game.
Harris and Gonce had two hits and Peters and Dyson had two runs batted in each. Harris, Landon Powell and Brian Buscher had doubles for the Gamecocks and the triple by Meyer was his first extra base of the season. Boggs had two of Georgia Tech’s eight hits. Matt Murton had a double for the Yellow Jackets.
SOUTH CAROLINA 311 001 002 – 8-12-0
GEORGIA TECH 010 002 000 – 3- 8-1
Marchbanks, Taylor (7) and Powell. Watchko, Goodman (6), Kindel (6), Adreas (9) and Nickeas. W-Marchbanks (3-0). L-Watchko (2-1). Save-taylor (2). 2B-USC, Harris, Powell, Buscher, GT, Murton. 3B-USC, Meyer, GT, Parker. HR-USC, Peters (2), Gonce (4).
