April 5, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – A two-out seventh inning single by Brad Chalk drove in Travis Storrer Wednesday night and Daniel Moskos pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings as seventh ranked Clemson edged top ranked South Carolina 3-2 before 5,782 fans at Sarge Frye Field.
Clemson claimed its second win in three meetings between the two Palmetto State rivals and improved its overall record to 21-8. South Carolina saw its nine game-win streak halted and fell to 26-4. The fourth and final game of the series is scheduled for next Wednesday night (April 12) at Clemson. South Carolina won 6-2 in Columbia March 4 and Clemson 6-4 March 5 at Clemson.
Moskos, usually the Clemson closer, came on with two outs in the sixth inning, the score tied at 2-2, and two runners on base. He retired the first seven batters that he faced before walking Cheyne Hurst to start the bottom of the ninth. Hurst moved to second on a sacrifice and Michael Campbell hit a hot line drive that Tiger second baseman Taylor Harbin speared and threw to shortstop Stan Widman for a game ending double play.
Moskos, Clemson’s fourth pitcher of the game, earned the win to improve his season record to 2-4. Conor Lalor, 0-1, the second of four South Carolina pitchers, was charged with the loss.
Clemson got on the board early with a first inning run. Herman Demmick reached on an infield hit, moved to second on a ground ball out, and scored on a two out double by Tyler Colvin. Robbie Grinestaff hit his 10th home run of the season in the South Carolina fourth to tie it at 1-1.
Clemson regained the lead with another two out run in the top of the sixth inning. Colvin hit his second double of the game and scored on a single by Andy D’Alessio. In the bottom of the inning, South Carolina tied it. Justin Smoak walked with one out and Mark Stanley singled, sending Smoak to third. He scored on a base hit by Cheyne Hurst with Stanley stopping at third base.
After Chris Brown struck out Moskos was summoned and retired Campbell on a grounder to shortstop. South Carolina’s only base runner the rest of the way was the leadoff walk to Hurst in the ninth.
South Carolina had an abundance of base runners in the first six innings, collecting eight hits and four walks and Clemson committed two errors, but the Gamecocks left 10 runners on base. Clemson left nine base runners in the game. The Tigers had 10 hits and drew only one walk while South Carolina played its seventh consecutive errorless game.
The two doubles by Colvin were the only Tiger extra base hit. The Grinestaff homer was South Carolina’s only extra base hit. Colvin also had a single to account for three of the 10 Tiger hits. Chalk had two hits.
Neil Giesler, who had a 20 game hitting streak halted last Sunday at Louisiana State, singled twice against Clemson, the only Gamecock with more than one hit.
South Carolina returns to Southeastern Conference competition this weekend with a three game series with Western Division leader Alabama. The Gamecocks lead the SEC overall and the Eastern Division with an 8-1 conference record. Alabama’s conference record is 7-2.
The three games of the Alabama series will be broadcast by the Gamecock Radio Network with Mike Morgan and Tommy Moody calling the action. Game times are 7 p.m., Friday, 4 p.m., Saturday and 1:30 on Sunday.
