March 10, 2008
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Columbia, S.C. – Reese Havens’ RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted fifth ranked South Carolina to a 2-1 win over Presbyterian on Monday evening in non-conference college baseball action at Sarge Frye Field. The win improves Carolina to 9-2 on the year while the loss drops Presbyterian to 5-6 this season. Carolina reliever Curtis Johnson pitched 4.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory. The Gamecocks return to action on Tuesday evening opening up a two-game series with Yale. First pitch for game one is set for 7 pm.
The Gamecocks and Blue Hose went back and forth from the sixth-ninth innings with neither team plating across a run to force the game into extra innings. With one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Carolina designated hitter Phil Disher launched a double off the left centerfield wall to put the Gamecocks in business. Adam Crisp would come in to pinch-run for Carolina and the Blue Hose would intentionally walk Andrew Crisp to put runners on first and second base with one out. With Whit Merrifield at the plate, PC reliever Jesse Harmon let one slip for a wild pitch that gave Carolina runners on second and third with a 3-2 count to Merrifield. The Blue Hose elected to intentionally walk Merrifield to load the bases and set the stage for Havens. On Harmon’s 0-1 pitch, Havens drilled a single up the middle to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and Adam Crisp crossed home plate for the winning run to seal the Gamecock victory.
Johnson struck out four and just walked one in his stint out of the bullpen to earn his first win of the year. He is 1-0 this season. Harmon worked an inning of relief and suffered the loss. He is 0-2 on the year.
The Blue Hose got on top first in the game with William Bolchoz giving PC a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning with a solo home run. Bolchoz knocked a 1-1 pitch from Thomas over the left field wall. PC limited the Gamecocks in the first few innings as starting pitcher Daniel Hill got out of bases loaded jams in both the third and fourth innings to keep the Gamecocks off the scoreboard. Carolina was able to tie the game in the fifth inning. Scott Wingo was hit by a pitch from Hill, marking the 10th time this season that Wingo has reached base on a hit by pitch. He would score on a one-out RBI single from Kyle Enders.
Both Hill and Carolina starting pitcher Craig Thomas were effective in their starts. Hill lasted 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits. Thomas went 5.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits with a career-high six strikeouts. The Gamecocks finished with an 8-3 advantage in hits. Justin Smoak led the way with two hits.
