April 6, 2008
Athens, Ga. – Georgia scored three runs in the first inning and a combined four relievers hurled five scoreless innings as the Bulldogs held on to defeat South Carolina 4-2 to sweep a weekend SEC series. The Bulldogs sit atop the SEC with a 20-10 overall record and a 9-3 mark in conference. The loss drops Carolina to 20-10 and 6-6 in the SEC. South Carolina returns to action on Tuesday night with the first of two home games in midweek action. The Gamecocks host Western Carolina with first pitch set for 7 pm. Live video broadcast is available at gamecocksonline.com with the radio call on 107.5 FM “The Game.”
With a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, Georgia summoned the first of four relievers that were able to keep the Gamecocks off the scoreboard in several run scoring opportunities. Justin Earls pitched 2.1 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits to pick up the win. He is 1-1 on the year. Nick Montgomery worked 0.2 innings without yielding a run with Dean Weaver coming on to pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Senior closer Joshua Fields finished the game for Georgia in the ninth inning to pick up his eighth save of the year as he set down all three Gamecock players including two strikeouts.
The loss spoiled a quality start for Carolina pitcher Blake Cooper. The sophomore right-hander worked 7.2 innings and allowed just four runs on eight hits to suffer the loss. He is 3-3 on the year. He struck out five and walked four in the contest. Craig Thomas faced one batter in the eighth inning and struck out Matt Cerione to end the frame.
Georgia broke ahead 3-0 on the Gamecocks in the first inning. Matt Olson got things started for the Bulldogs with a one-out single and advanced to second base on a passed ball to catcher Kyle Enders. Georgia would then put runners on the corners as Reese Havens made a nice stop on a lined shot in the hole but just missed his throw to first base allowing Gordon Beckham to reach on an infield single. Georgia would score its first run then on a Gamecock miscue as catcher Kyle Enders threw past second baseman Andrew Crisp on a steal attempt by Beckham allowing Olson to score from second to third base and putting Beckham at third. After a walk to Rich Poythress, Georgia would take a 2-0 lead on Bryce Massanari’s RBI base hit. Matt Cerione increased the Georgia lead to 3-0 then with a RBI double.
As was the case in game two of the series on Saturday, Carolina continued to use the long ball to score runs with a pair of solo homers in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to one run. James Darnell greeted a 3-2 pitch from Moreau with a blast to left field, his 10th home run of the year to tie him for the team lead with Reese Havens. Phil Disher followed with a one-out homer to right center off of Nathan Moreau, his ninth round tripper of the year. Georgia got a run back in the fifth inning as Rich Poythress tallied a RBI single for the Bulldogs.
The Gamecocks nearly took the lead in the top of the seventh inning only to see the Georgia bullpen get out of another jam. Kyle Enders got things started for Carolina with a leadoff single and Scott Wingo walked to give the Gamecocks a pair of runners with no outs. Following Reese Havens’ sacrifice bunt, Georgia reliever Nick Montgomery was summoned and struck out Whit Merrifield to get the key second out of the inning.
Montgomery would then escape the inning as he was able to get James Darnell on a long fly ball out to dead center that was caught at the edge of the warning track by center fielder Matt Cerione, just shy of the wall at the 400 foot mark to preserve the Georgia lead.
Each team finished with eight hits on the afternoon. Justin Smoak and Harley Lail had two hits apiece for the Gamecocks with Rich Poythress leading the Bulldogs with two hits.
South Carolina returns to action on Tuesday night with the first of two home games in midweek action. The Gamecocks host Western Carolina with first pitch set for 7 pm. Live video broadcast is available at gamecocksonline.com with the radio call on 107.5 FM “The Game.” Carolina is also home on Wednesday night with a non-conference tilt vs. Clemson. Game time is also 7 pm for that contest.
