May 19, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – In one of the largest comebacks in school history, South Carolina rallied from an 11-run deficit highlighted by a nine-run eighth inning to earn a 14-13 win over Georgia and win the rubber game of a three-game SEC series. Carolina improves to 40-16 and 17-13 in the SEC while the loss drops Georgia to 23-33 and 11-19 in the conference. The win marks the Gamecocks’ eighth straight season with 40-plus victories as well. South Carolina is seeded third in the SEC Tournament and will face Florida on Wed. May 23 at 2 pm ET at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala.
Trailing 13-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Gamecocks began their comeback with two runs in the frame. Andrew Crisp knocked a two-run homer to left field to bring the Gamecocks within nine runs. South Carolina added a single run in the seventh inning as Kyle Enders tallied a sacrifice fly RBI to score Phil Disher to cut the Georgia lead to eight runs.
South Carolina started things off in the nine-run eighth inning against Georgia reliever Iain Sebastian with Crisp doubling to right field and advancing to third base on right fielder Blake Cannady’s fielding error. The first run would then score on a RBI single by Cheyne Hurst, who also advanced to second base on the second fielding error by Cannady in right field. Pinch hitter Robbie Grinestaff continued things with a single to left field that gave the Gamecocks runners on the corners. After a walk issued to Travis Jones loaded the bases, the Bulldogs went to reliever Ryan Woolley, who walked James Darnell to score Hurst and cut the Georgia lead to six runs. Georgia went to the bullpen a third time with Justin Earls and the Gamecocks greeted him with consecutive two-run doubles from Justin Smoak and Phil Disher that brought Carolina within two runs at 13-11. With still no outs and Disher on second base, Carolina closed the gap to within a run as Enders doubled down the left field line to score Disher. The Gamecocks tied the game then on a botched play by Georgia as Harley Lail set down a sacrifice bunt but on the play saw first baseman Rich Poythress drop the ball to allow Enders to score from second base and tie the match-up. Lail stole second base with one out and scored the game-winning run on a double to left center by Hurst off of Georgia closer Joshua Fields.
Carolina junior right-hander Harris Honeycutt came on in a rare relief appearance and struck out all three batters in the ninth inning to earn a save and preserve the Gamecock victory. Sophomore left-hander Will Atwood picked up the win in relief and is now 2-1 on the year. He allowed just two hits in two innings of work. Earls took the loss for Georgia and is now 2-4 on the year.
Disher finished 4-for-5 with three RBI with Crisp 3-for-5 with three RBI and Enders, Hurst and Smoak all driving in two runs apiece for the Gamecocks. Disher tied a single-record at Carolina with three doubles in one game. The Gamecocks out-hit the Bulldogs 15-14 on the afternoon. Travis Parrott went 4-for-5 for Georgia with six RBI and three doubles as well. Ryan Peisel, Gordon Beckham and Poythress added two hits apiece.
Georgia broke out against South Carolina starting pitcher Blake Cooper with four runs in the top of the first inning. Jonathan Wyatt go things started for the Bulldogs with a one-out single followed by an infield hit from Gordon Beckham and Rich Poythress’ bloop single to center field that loaded the bases. The Bulldogs scored their first run on Olson’s fielder’s choice to shortstop. Georgia would score three more runs Travis Parrott’s two-out RBI double to right center that fell out of the glove of a diving grab by center fielder Steven Reinhold.
Parrott came through in the third inning again with the bases loaded as he cleared with another RBI double to score three runs and put Georgia up 7-0. South Carolina scored a pair of single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on RBI’s from Crisp and Disher. The Bulldogs took their 11-run lead in the top of the sixth inning with six runs off of RBI hits from Peisel, Beckham, a RBI walk to Jonathan Wyatt, a wild pitch and a hit by pitch against Jake Crane.
Georgia starting pitcher Trevor Holder went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks allowed. Carolina starter Blake Cooper finished 2.1 innings and allowed seven runs on six hits with three walks and one strikeout.
