Blair's Blast Lifts Baseball Past Buckeyes
June 1, 2018
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The University of South Carolina baseball team scored five runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Danny Blair, to overcome a 2-0 deficit in an 8-3 win over Ohio State in game one of the 2018 NCAA Greenville Regional at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
The Gamecocks came into the bottom of the seventh down 2-0 after Ohio State scored on a solo home run from Dillon Dingler in the second and an RBI double from Dingler in the seventh. Hunter Taylor led off the seventh with a single to right. He moved to second on Jacob Olson‘s single to center. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a Matt Williams sacrifice bunt and both trotted home on Blair’s second home run of the season, a three-run shot to right. The Gamecocks put two runners on after Carlos Cortes‘ single and a fielder’s choice from Madison Stokes. Both runners moved up on a groundout and Justin Row brought them both in with a single to center.
Carolina added insurance in the eighth, scoring three times. Olson walked and went to second on Williams single to right. A Blair sacrifice bunt moved both runners up and Cortes brought in one with an infield single. Cortes stole second and Williams scored on a throwing error. Jonah Bride then brought in Cortes with a single to left.
Eddy Demurias moved to 7-0 on the year, allowing an unearned run in three innings of work. Graham Lawson picked up the save, striking out a batter and allowing an unearned run in two innings of relief. Adam Hill started the game, allowing a run and four hits with six strikeouts in four innings.
Row and Cortes had three hits apiece, part of a 14-hit Gamecock attack. Bride and Olson added a pair of hits in the win.
GAMECHANGER
South Carolina’s biggest inning might have been the fifth, when the Gamecocks and Eddy Demurias got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a pop out and a fielder’s choice. Ohio State left 12 men on base in the game.
KEY STAT
Ohio State closer Seth Kinker had not allowed a home run this season until Blair’s three-run blast in the seventh.
NOTABLE
- Danny Blair hit his second home run of the season in the win. Blair’s other home run was against Tennessee on March 30.
- Adam Hill now has 98 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched after his six punchouts in today’s win.
- Carolina picked up its sixth win of the season when trailing after six innings.
- Jacob Olson, who leads the team in doubles, picked up his 19th of the season with a two-bagger in the fifth.
- Carolina improved to 14-6 all-time against Ohio State and 133-67 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
UP NEXT
South Carolina will play Saturday, June 2 at 5 p.m. against the winner of UNC Wilmington and East Carolina in game four of the 2018 NCAA Greenville Regional.
