March 1, 2016
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Freshman right-hander Adam Hill pitched five scoreless innings to earn his second win of the year and was backed by an offense that belted out 15 hits as 13th ranked South Carolina defeated The Citadel 6-3 on Tuesday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. The Gamecocks improve to 9-0 on the year with The Citadel falling to 5-2 for the season.
Hill allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters to improve to 2-0 on the year. He has 19 strikeouts in 11.0 innings pitched in two starts for the Gamecocks. Junior left-hander Josh Reagan pitched a perfect ninth to earn his third save of the year. The Citadel starter Jacob Watcher suffered the loss and is 1-1 for the season. He allowed four runs, all earned on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout.
South Carolina raced ahead 4-0 in the top of the third inning. John Jones got things started with a one-out double to right-center and scored on Alex Destino’s RBI single into right field. Destino advanced to second on the play on a throwing error by Bulldog right fielder Austin Mapes. He would then score on Chris Cullen’s RBI double off the wall in left field, that just missed clearing the wall for a homer. After a balk and a walk to Gene Cone, a RBI fielder’s choice by DC Arendas and a RBI single by Marcus Mooney would give the Gamecocks a four-run lead.
Carolina increased the lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning. Arendas reached base on a single and scored on Danny Blair’s RBI double down the left field line.
The Citadel cut into the Gamecocks’ lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on a three-run double by Drew Ellis. After loading the bases with one out, Ellis knocked a deep fly to left field that went off the wall to clear the bases. Carolina got a run back in the seventh inning to take a three-run lead. Bride came up with a big two-out RBI single to score Dom Thompson-Williams.
GAME CHANGER
The four-run third inning gave the Gamecocks the cushion they needed on the way to a 6-3 win over The Citadel.
KEY STAT
Nine different Gamecocks recorded at least one hit with six different players driving in one run apiece.
NOTABLES
Sophomore catcher John Jones’ streak of reaching base 14 consecutive times ended in the top of the first inning with a strikeout. Jones fought back though and was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored.
Junior outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams tied his career-high with three hits at the plate.
Williams and sophomore third baseman Jonah Bride have each reached base in all nine games this year.
Freshman catcher Chris Cullen owns a team-high six-game hitting streak.
Five different Gamecocks had at least two hits. Jones, Destino, Cullen, Blair had two hits apiece with Thompson-Williams finishing with three.
Sophomore right-hander Brandon Murray pitched 2.2 perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chad Holbrook
“(Adam Hill) has been real special (in his first two starts). I thought he had a great fastball tonight. He showed great composure (early) when they had a man on third and one out. He competed real hard, pitched in a tough environment, I’m very proud of him.”
UP NEXT
College baseball’s premier rivalry is this weekend with South Carolina and Clemson meeting in a three-game series. Friday’s game is at Founders Park with first pitch set for 7 p.m. Game two shifts to Greenville and the Reedy River Rivalry contest at Fluor Field on Saturday. First pitch is 2:30 p.m. Sunday’s series finale is in Clemson with a 2 p.m. game time at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
