March 21, 2012

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mac Doyle hit two home runs including a two-run homer in the eighth inning that tied the game and Konstantine Diamaduros had a RBI single in the 11th inning as Wofford defeated sixth ranked South Carolina 5-4 on Wednesday night at Carolina Stadium. Wofford improves to 9-12 while South Carolina drops to 16-5 on the year.

With the Gamecocks ahead 4-2 entering the top of the eighth inning, Wofford struck on the back of Doyle’s second homer of the game. After a leadoff single by James Foster to open the frame, with one out and Foster still on first, Doyle drilled his fifth home run of the season to let field to tie it up. The score remained 4-4 until the 12th inning when Matthew Kaskow led off with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position, Diamaduros knocked a RBI base hit to left field just out of the reach of a diving TJ Costen in left to score Kaskow and give the Terriers a 5-4 lead. The Gamecocks put the tying run on second base with one out in the bottom of the 11th but Eric Eck got the next two outs to give Wofford the win.

Eck pitched 3.2 scoreless innings with no hits allowed to earn the win. He is 3-1 for the year. He struck out six and walked just one. South Carolina reliever Evan Beal suffered the loss and is now 1-2 on the year. He allowed one run on one hit in two innings with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Gamecocks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Adam Matthews led off with a walk, Tanner English singled and Evan Marzilli drew a one-out walk. Joey Pankake would drive in Matthews with a RBI sacrifice fly to center field. That lead increased to 3-0 in the fifth inning on Walker’s two-run homer. Pankake doubled down the left field line with two outs to set the stage for Walker, who crushed the first pitch he saw from Bradley for a homer to left-center, his second home run of the season.

The Terriers answered with a two-run homer as well, this off the bat of Mac Doyle. After a leadoff single by Diamaduros, Doyle would belt his first homer of the game to the gap in left-center cutting Carolina’s lead to 3-2. South Carolina had its own response in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dante Rosenberg’s two-out RBI single increased the Carolina lead to 4-2.

South Carolina starter Adam Westmoreland pitched well despite the no-decision. He allowed two runs on five hits in five-plus innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Wofford starter Mason Bradley went five innings and allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Diamaduros, Doyle and Plaisted had two hits apiece to lead Wofford at the plate. Tanner English was 2-for-4 to lead the Gamecocks.

South Carolina returns to action on Thursday night hosting top ranked Florida in a three-game SEC baseball series. Thursday’s opener at Carolina Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson on the call. It can also be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College with Andy Demetra and Tommy Moody behind the microphone. Live Gametracker stats are available at GamecocksOnline.com.