May 14, 2005
Oxford, Miss. – Stephen Head went 3-for-4 with two RBI and pitched the final three innings to earn a save as Ole Miss evened its series with South Carolina earning a 7-2 win on Saturday afternoon. The rubber game of the series is scheduled for 1:30 pm CT on Sunday at Swayze Field. Ole Miss is 36-16 and 14-12 in the conference with South Carolina 34-18 and a 13-13 SEC record.
Ole Miss starting pitcher Matt Maloney improved to 6-2 with six innings of work allowing two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts. Maloney made way for Head, who threw three shutout innings with three strikeouts and only three hits allowed. The save for Head was his fourth of the year.
Carolina starting pitcher Zac McCamie suffered the loss and is now 8-3 on the year. McCamie went five 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs on 10 hits, both season highs by an opponent vs. the senior right-hander in a game this year.
The Rebels broke ahead of South Carolina 1-0 in the first inning with an unearned run off McCamie. Chris Coghlan reached first base with one-out on a fielding error by Steven Tolleson, advanced on a walk to Brian Pettway and scored on a RBI single from Head. McCamie worked his way out of a first and third base jam with one out though as he picked off Head at first base and struck out Mark Wright looking to end the frame.
The Rebels would increase the lead to two runs in the third inning on a solo home run from outfielder Brian Pettway. Pettway drilled a 1-0 pitch over the right field wall for his 17th homer of the season. Ole Miss took a 3-0 advantage in the third inning with a sacrifice fly from Coghlan to score Barry Gunther, who opened the inning with a double.
South Carolina crept to within one run in the fifth inning on a two-run homer from Tommy King. After Brendan Winn singled to lead off the frame, King launched the first pitch from Maloney to left field for his second homer of the year. King, making his first start since May 1 vs. Auburn, just missed a homer in his previous at-bat when hit a lined shot to the warning track in left field in the third inning.
A four-run sixth inning put Ole Miss in front 7-2 in the sixth inning and gave the Rebels a five-run cushion. Zach Cozart singled and reached second base on a one-out single from Miles Franklin. Justin Henry was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and Coghlan walked to plate home Cozart for the first run of the inning for the Rebels. With the bases loaded, McCamie lost his footing on the delivery when he faced Pettway that led to a balk and the second Rebels run. McCamie stayed strong though as he struck out Pettway swinging for the second out. USC reliever Forrest Beverly entered the game with two outs and allowed a bunt single to Stephen Head for the third run of the frame. Ole Miss would score its final run on a wild pitch from Beverly.
Head led Ole Miss with three hits with Pettway, Osteen and Cozart adding two apiece. The Rebels finished with 11 on the afternoon. Carolina scattered seven hits with King leading the way with three, a career-high for the sophomore from Mt. Dora, Fla.
Sunday’s series finale can be heard on the South Carolina Radio Network including 103.1 FM and 1320 AM in Columbia with Mike Morgan and Tom Price calling the action. Live audio broadcast and live gametracker stats are also available at uscsports.com.
Ole Miss will start junior LHP Eric Fowler (4-2, 3.17 ERA) while the Gamecocks will counter with either senior RHP Jason Fletcher (5-4, 3.63 ERA) or sophomore LHP Arik Hempy (1-0, 1.86 ERA).
