Gamecocks Fall 5-3 to Vanderbilt in 13 Innings
April 7, 2017
COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” Julian Infante’s one-out, two-run homer in the top of the 13th inning lifted 21st ranked Vanderbilt to a 5-3 victory over sixth ranked South Carolina to clinch the series on Friday night at Founders Park. The Gamecocks are now 20-10 overall and 6-5 in the SEC with Vanderbilt moving to 21-11 and 6-5 in league play.
With the score tied at 3-3 heading into the top of the 13th inning, Stephen Scott singled through the right side and Infante launched a two-run homer to left field to ultimately give the Commodores the win.
Vanderbilt right-hander Matt Ruppenthal earned the win with seven scoreless innings of relief with just wo hits allowed and three strikeouts. He is now 1-1 on the year. Gamecock right-hander Reed Scott suffered the loss and is 1-2 for the season. He allowed two runs on two hits in 0.2 innings with a walk.
Carolina would take advantage of a Vandy error take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Madison Stokes reached base on a throwing error by second baseman Alonzo Jones to open the frame. Heads up base running by Stokes would then give the Gamecocks a pair of base runners as he evaded Jones’ tag on a fielder’s choice, which allowed Danny Blair to reach first base as well. Matt Williams would then be hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Jonah Bride would drive in Stokes with a RBI single to left field. A double play would score Williams for the second run and Carlos Cortes would make it 3-0 with a two-out RBI base hit.
The Commodores got on the board in the top of the fourth inning and cut the Gamecocks’ lead to one. Stephen Scott doubled to right center and Infante brought him home with a single to left field. Infante would eventually score on a wild pitch.
Vanderbilt scored with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game. Will Toffey walked to open the inning and scored on a two-out RBI pinch-hit single to left field off the bat of Reed Hayes.
GAME CHANGER
Julian Infante’s two-run homer in the 13th inning.
KEY STAT
The Gamecocks had just two hits in the final seven innings at the plate.
NOTABLES
– Jacob Olson has successfully reached base in 19 consecutive games and Jonah Bride has safely reached base in 18 consecutive games.
– The Gamecocks set a season high in strikeouts with 17. The previous record of 16 was set vs. Wright State on Feb. 24.
– Colie Bowers tied his career high innings pitched with four. He also went for four against The Citadel on May 17, 2016. He allowed one run on one hit in four innings of relief with two walks and five strikeouts.
– South Carolina right-hander Clarke Schmidt allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings with a walk and 11 strikeouts in the start for the Gamecocks.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chad Holbrook
“Well it’s obviously a very difficult loss. We kind of piggybacked last night’s loss and Sunday’s loss at Auburn. They’re hard to take when you’re so close to winning them. We’ve got to find a way to get over that hump and get that 27th out. That being said our pitchers kept us in the game they pitched their tails off. Clarke [Schmidt] gave us all we asked them to give us. Josh [Reagan] was good. Colie [Bowers] was terrific, he pitched his heart out. We just didn’t do enough offensively. From the third inning on we didn’t do anything offensively to threaten the score. We kind of forced our pitchers to be perfect and at the end of the day they got us.”
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks are back in action on Saturday, April 8 for the final game in the three-game series with Vanderbilt. First pitch is set for Noon. It will be televised on ESPN2 and is also available on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
