May 15, 2005
Oxford, Miss. – Ole Miss scored eight runs in the second and third inning on its way to an 8-4 victory over South Carolina on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of a three-game series at Swayze Field. Ole Miss is now 37-16 and 15-12 in the SEC while South Carolina moves to 34-19 and 13-14 in the conference. Carolina is in a tie for sixth place in the SEC with a three-game series with Kentucky remaining on the schedule. The first game of the three-game set is Friday at 7 p.m. at Sarge Frye Field.
Ole Miss starting pitcher Eric Fowler went six 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits with a season-high 11 strikeouts to pick up the win. Fowler is 5-2 on the year. Carolina starting pitcher Jason Fletcher suffered the loss and is 5-5. Fletcher worked one 1/3 inning allowing four runs on five hits
Ole Miss struck early with six runs in the second inning sending 12 batters to the plate. The Rebels loaded the bases with one out as Cooper Osteen collected single followed by a base hit from Zack Cozart and a hit by pitch from Barry Gunther. Miles Franklin would draw a walk to score Osteen to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead. With Wynn Pelzer on in relief for Fletcher, Ole Miss increased its lead to four runs on RBI singles from Justin Henry and Chris Coghlan. Stephen Head would also draw a bases loaded walk to score another run and Mark Wright added a RBI fielder’s choice as the Rebels built a 6-0 lead.
Coghlan put Ole Miss on top by eight runs in the third inning with a two-run homer to right field off Carolina reliever Arik Hempy. Despite the home run, Hempy was effective for the Gamecocks out of the bullpen. Hempy worked six 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs on three hits, his longest outing of the year. The sophomore left-hander did now allow a hit past the fifth inning.
Carolina staged a late rally with four runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Steve Pearce led the way with a solo homer in the sixth inning and a two-run single in the seventh. Pearce has a team-high 16 homers on the year to go along with 49 RBI. Michael Campbell added a RBI single in the seventh inning as the Gamecocks cut the deficit to four runs. Cory Vanderhook also had two hits in his first start behind the plate since March 26 at Florida.
Coghlan was 2-for-4 with four RBI leading Ole Miss at the plate. Henry also had two hits as Ole Miss finished with 10 on the afternoon. Live audio broadcast and live gametracker stats for all three games next weekend vs. Kentucky will be available at uscsports.com.
