Feb. 26, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – Freshman first baseman Justin Smoak had five hits, scored five times and drove in five runs as South Carolina completed a suspended game from Saturday with a 6-3 win Sunday and followed with a 12-4 win over Duquesne.
The two victories completed a sweep of the three game college baseball series and improved South Carolina’s season record to 8-1. Duquesne dropped to 0-3.
The suspended game was halted after four innings due to rain Saturday with Duquesne holding a 1-0 lead. The final five innings were completed before the start of the scheduled Sunday game. South Carolina scored four fifth inning runs to gain the lead and added two in the eighth for the 6-3 first game victory.
Robbie Grinestaff hit a three run homer, his fourth of the season, to drive in three first game runs. Smoak singled in his final two first game at bats and followed with a perfect showing in five second game plate appearances, reaching base seven consecutive times. He doubled, driving in three runs, in his first two appearances, and followed with his first career home run, a two run shot. He walked his final two appearances.
Andy Lambert (2-0) pitched two innings of relief in the first game to receive credit for the win. Shawn Valdes-Fauli pitched the ninth to earn his third save. Forrest Beverly worked the first five innings of the second game to improve his record to 3-0.Bob Hartle (0-1) and Jeremy Gerger (0-1) were the losing pitchers for Duquesne.
South Carolina wasted little time in taking charge of the second game, scoring three runs in the first inning, two in the third, three in the fourth and three in the sixth. Duquesne scored three of its four runs in the fourth inning off Beverly.
South Carolina had 23 hits in the two games, eight in the first and 15 in the second. Grinestaff’s homer was the only first game extra base hit for the Gamecocks who had six doubles and the homer by Smoak in the second game. Pinch hitter Drew Martin had a bases loaded three run double in addition to the pair of two baggers by Smoak and doubles by Grinestaff, Cheyne Hurst and Michael Campbell.
For Duquesne, Eric Morrison had a double in each game. Joe Berletic doubled in the first game and Derek Mechling had a triple in the second game. Duquesne had six first game hits and had seven hits in the second contest.
Campbell broke out of a hitting slump with three hits and four runs batted in the two games.
South Carolina winds up a 10 game season opening home stand Saturday with the first of four games scheduled this season against nationally number one ranked Clemson at Sarge Frye Field. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The scene shifts to Clemson for the second game on Sunday at 2 p.m. the Gamecocks and Tigers will meet in Columbia April 5 and at Clemson April 12 to complete the series.
