March 5, 2006
Clemson, S.C. – Marquez Smith’s two-out bases loaded RBI single capped a three-run seventh inning as No. 1 Clemson rallied to defeat No. 9 South Carolina 6-4 on Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The win improves Clemson to 7-2 while the loss drops the Gamecocks record to 9-2. The two teams split the home-and-home series played this weekend.
With South Carolina leading 4-3 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Brad Chalk started off the Tiger rally with a single to left field. Taylor Harbin would follow with his own single to left field giving Clemson runners on first and second base. USC reliever Alex Farotto then entered the game and hit Tyler Colvin with his first pitch loading the bases. Clemson tied the game at 4-4 as USC reliever Jeff Jeffords walked Travis Storrer setting the stage for Smith. On a 1-2 pitch from reliever Shawn Valdes-Fauli, Smith was able to knock a single to left field scoring two runs and giving Clemson the lead.
Carolina seemed to gain control of the game in the top of the seventh inning scoring a run to take a 4-3 lead. With two outs and runners on first and second base, pinch hitter Drew Martin lined a single to left field to score pinch runner James Darnell and give the Gamecocks a one-run edge.
USC reliever Andy Lambert suffered the loss for USC and is now 2-1 on the year with Clemson pitcher Josh Cribb picking up the victory. He is now 3-0 on the year.
South Carolina struck early in the game with two runs in the top of the first inning. Neil Giesler stroked a two-out single to center field and Robbie Grinestaff knocked a single to right to set the stage for freshman Justin Smoak. Smoak turned on a 0-2 pitch from Stephen Faris for a double down the right field line that scored both runners on base and staked the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead.
Carolina extended the lead to 3-0 with an unearned run in the third inning. Michael Campbell hit a one-out single, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Adrian Casanova. Campbell would score on a RBI single from Giesler, his second hit of the day. The Tigers would come back however, with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to tie the game at 3-3. Clemson’s first run in the bottom of the third came off a leadoff triple by Stan Widmann and a RBI groundout from Casanova. Clemson’s second run in the fourth inning was an unearned run off of Forrest Beverly. With two outs and Taylor Harbin on third base, Marquez Smith hit a short grounder to shortstop. After fielding the ball cleanly, USC shortstop Reese Havens threw high to first base allowing Harbin to score. The third run tied the game as Widmann started off the frame with a single and advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. He would score on a RBI infield single from Brad Chalk, as he just edged out a throw from Havens at first base.
South Carolina returns to action at Sarge Frye Field on Tuesday evening (March 7) with a non-conference tilt vs. William & Mary. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
