March 13, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – A three base Clemson error, Michael Campbell’s triple and a fly ball double by Brendan Winn Sunday keyed a three run eighth inning rally as South Carolina claimed a 6-5 victory, its second win over Clemson in two days.
The Gamecocks won 6-3 at Clemson on Saturday. The two teams will meet twice more this season, April 13 at Clemson and April 20 at Columbia. Sunday’s game drew an overflow crowd of 5,887 at Sarge Frye Field as fourth ranked South Carolina improved its season record to 15-1. Clemson dropped to 5-7.
Andrew Cruse, 3-0, was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Zac McCamie but needed last out help from Brent Marsh who picked up his fourth save. Drew Fiorenza, 1-1, was charged with the loss.
South Carolina trailed 5-3 when David Kopp relieved Tiger starter Kris Harvey to begin the bottom of the eighth inning. Kopp walked Tommy King and with one out pinch hitter Ryan Mahoney hit a high chopper to the mound. Kopp’s wild throw to first scored King with Mahoney reaching third base. Pinch runner Mark Stanley replaced Mahoney.
Fiorenza relieved Kopp and was greeted by a triple down the right field line by Michael Campbell that tied the score. Brendan Winn lifted a high fly ball to right center that fell between outfielders Jesse Ferguson and Travis Storrer for a double, scoring Campbell with the go ahead run. Neil Giesler followed with a single but Winn was out at the plate on a strong throw by Clemson right fielder Storrer.
Clemson threatened with two ninth inning base runners before Marsh choked off the Tiger rally. Herman Demmink singled with one out, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a ground out. Storrer walked to put the potential go ahead run on first base. Harvey, who doubled as Clemson’s designated hitter and starting pitcher, flied out to left field on the second pitch by Marsh to end the game
South Carolina took a 2-0 first inning lead when Steve Pearce hit his fourth home run of the season after Steven Tolleson had reached on an error. Clemson tied it with single runs in the second and third innings.
In the second, Tyler Colvin beat out an infield hit, raced to third on a single by Andy D’Alessio, and scored when San Widman hit into a double play. Taylor Harbin hit his first home run of the season in the third.
South Carolina regained the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Pearce doubled, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Jon Willard sacrifice fly. Clemson, which out hit South Carolina 13-7, threatened in several innings but didn’t score until taking the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh inning.
One out singles by Demmink and Harbin, a double by Storrer and a single by Colvin accounted for the Tiger runs in the inning.
Colvin led the Clemson offense with three hits. Demmink, Harvin and Storrer each had two hits. Pearce and Campbell had two hits for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina travels to Spartanburg for a 7 p.m., Game at Wofford before opening its 30 game Southeastern Conference schedule next weekend with three games against Arkansas at Sarge Frye Field.
