May 8, 2010
Lexington, Ky. – Braden Kapteyn’s two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning was enough to lift Kentucky to a 2-1 victory over South Carolina on Saturday night on a cool evening for baseball at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Carolina is now 36-10 and 17-6 in the SEC with Kentucky improving to 25-21 and 8-15 in league play. The rubber game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday and will be broadcast live on the Gamecock Radio Network and at GamecocksOnline.com.
Kentucky starter Jordan Cooper went 6.2 innings and allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts, two walks and three hit by pitches to earn the win. He is now 3-4 for the year. Matt Little pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to pick up his seventh save of the year. He allowed just two hits and struck out a pair of batters. South Carolina starter Sam Dyson went the distance, his second complete game of the season and allowed two runs on six hits in eight innings of work. He struck out eight and walked four. Dyson is 4-4 for the season.
The Gamecocks went ahead 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run by Evan Marzilli. On a 1-1 pitch, Marzilli crushed a homer to right center, his second of the season to give the Gamecocks a one-run lead. Kentucky struck back in the bottom half to score a pair of runs and take a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats had three consecutive hits that led to a pair of runs. Gunner Glad singled to left field, Lance Ray hit a base hit to right field and both scored on Braden Kapteyn’s double to the gap in left center.
From then on it was the Wildcats, who kept Carolina off the scoreboard to secure the victory. Carolina had a couple of chances in the late innings but could not scratch across the tying run. In the seventh inning, Marzilli drew a one-out walk followed by a two-out single by Scott Wingo to give the Gamecocks a pair of runners. That brought Little in from the bullpen for Kentucky. He struggled with his second pitch to Whit Merrifield and threw wild giving the Gamecocks runners in scoring position at second and third base. But Little battled and coaxed Merrifield into fouling out to the third baseman as Kentucky dodged a bullet.
In the eighth inning, after Jackie Bradley Jr. reached base on a strikeout, wild pitch by Little, the Gamecocks’ second threat in the late innings was thwarted as Christian Walker grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Jeffery Jones followed the double play with a base hit to center field. The Gamecocks went to the bench with pinch runner Robert Beary, who was able to get into scoring position by stealing second base. On a 2-2 pitch, Little threw one in the dirt but Wildcat catcher Luke Maile was able to corral the ball and throw out Beary attempting to reach third base to end the inning and another Gamecock threat.
South Carolina tried once more to get the tying run home in the top of the ninth as Adrian Morales led off with a single to left field. Morales would be out at second base on a fielder’s choice to Brady Thomas. Carolina again went to the bench with pinch runner Adam Matthews, but he would be stranded on first as Little struck out Marzilli looking and got pinch hitter Michael Roth to pop out to shortstop Taylor Black ending the game and the final Gamecock chance.
Both teams finished with six hits. Morales went 2-for-3 to lead Carolina with Gunner Glad 2-for-4 to lead the Wildcats.
