April 25, 2007
Clemson, S.C. – Clemson broke open a one-run game in the fifth inning with four runs and added seven more in the seventh inning on its way to a 14-5 win over South Carolina on Wednesday evening at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Despite the loss, the Gamecocks still win the series for the 2007 season, taking three of four games this year vs. the Tigers. Justin Smoak earned the Tom Price Award as MVP for the series for the Gamecocks. South Carolina is now 32-11 on the year while the win improves Clemson to 27-14 this season.
The Tigers pounded out 16 hits on the night on its way to the win. Ben Paulsen tallied three hits including his fourth homer of the year to lead the Tigers. Wilson Boyd also had two hits and four RBI with Marquez Smith and Doug Hogan also adding two hits.
Clemson starting pitcher D.J. Mitchell was effective in six innings of work as he limited the Gamecocks to one run on four hits with six strikeouts to pick up the win. He is now 2-0 on the year. South Carolina starting pitcher Blake Cooper recovered from a tough first inning and worked four in the game, limiting the Tigers to two runs, one earned, on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks. He suffered his first loss of the season and is 5-1 on the year.
South Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Harley Lail led off the game with a double to left center and scored on Travis Jones’ RBI single up the middle. The Tigers answered in the bottom half though with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Brad Chalk opened the frame with an infield single and advanced on a throwing error by shortstop Reese Havens. Chalk would then score on Wilson Boyd’s bloop single down the left field line with Boyd advancing to second on the throw home. Boyd would then score on the Tigers’ third straight hit, a RBI single courtesy of Taylor Harbin.
It remained 2-1 until the fifth inning when the Tigers added four runs to go ahead 6-1 against the Gamecocks. Alex Burg and J.D. Burgess each had one-out singles and would both score on a triple by Alex Lee. Lee would score the third run of the inning on a wild pitch issued by Gamecock reliever Alex Farotto. Andy D’Alessio then hit a two-out single, stole second base and scored on Marquez Smith’s RBI single to right field.
South Carolina mounted a rally in the seventh inning with a pair of runs against Clemson reliever William Bond. Andrew Crisp hit a two-out single and would score all the way from first base on a dropped fly ball by Clemson right fielder Alex Burg on a ball hit by Harley Lail. Lail would then score on Travis Jones’ second RBI hit of the game, another single up the middle.
The Tigers came back in the bottom half to score seven more runs though as Ben Paulsen delivered with a three-run homer to highlight the frame for the Tigers. Phil Disher homered with two outs in the top of the eighth inning for the Gamecocks. It was his 10th of the year and the third straight game he has homered for the Gamecocks. South Carolina scored a final run in the ninth inning on Jones’ third RBI of the night, a triple down the right field line.
Justin Smaok’s hitting streak ended at 23 games after a 0-for-3 night. Jones had three hits with Lail adding two to lead the Gamecocks at the plate.
South Carolina continues its road trip with a three-game SEC series at Alabama. First pitch on Friday is 7:30 pm ET, with Saturday’s game at 5 pm ET and Sunday’s series finale scheduled for 3 pm ET. All three games can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network with Tommy Moody and Tom Price on the broadcast.
