March 22, 2008
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Columbia, S.C. – Justin Smoak’s solo home run in the seventh inning started off a three-run seventh inning and starting pitcher Will Atwood allowed just one run in seven innings of work to pick up his second win of the year as South Carolina defeated Mississippi State 4-1 to win game two of a SEC baseball series at Sarge Frye Field. Carolina has won both games vs. the Bulldogs. The Gamecocks own a 14-5 record and are 3-2 in the conference while MSU is 9-11 and 1-4 in the SEC. Carolina and Mississippi State play the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 1:30 pm.
Atwood allowed just one run on four hits in seven innings of work to improve to 2-0 this year. He struck out five and walked three. Senior Brandon Todd came on in the eighth inning and hurled two scoreless innings of relief to pick up his first save of the year. He also struck out one batter. MSU starter Lee Swindle suffered the loss and is 2-1 on the year. He worked 6.1 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with a strikeout and three walks.
Mississippi State would go ahead first in the contest with a run in the third inning. Grant Hogue and Nick Hardy each singled to give the Bulldogs runners on the corners with no outs. Atwood would limit the damage though forcing Jason Nappi into a double play. Hogue scored on it to give MSU a one-run lead.
Carolina tied the game in the fourth inning as Whit Merrifield reached base on a leadoff walk followed by a double from James Darnell. Merrifield would then score on a RBI courtesy of Smoak.
The game remained 1-1 until the seventh inning when Smoak delivered with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot that went opposite field and over the left field wall. The inning would continue with Andrew Crisp extending his hitting streak to 12 games with a one-out single followed by an infield single for Harley Lail and a walk to Phil Disher. With the bags loaded and two outs, Reese Havens delivered with a two-run single off Bulldog reliever Tyler Whitney to left center that scored both Lail and Disher.
That would be all the Gamecocks needed as Todd sent down six of the seven batters he faced in the final two innings to preserve the Gamecock victory.
South Carolina finished with a 6-4 advantage in hits with Lail leading the way with two infield singles. Smoak’s home run ties him with Reese Havens, James Darnell and Phil Disher for the team lead with five. The Gamecocks have now homered in 18 of 19 games on the year.
Sunday’s game can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network with live video broadcast available at gamecocksonline.com. Live gametracker stats are also available. Mike Morgan and Tommy Moody have the call.
