May 10, 2008
Fayetteville, Ark. – Arkansas rallied from a one-run deficit and scored four times in the seventh inning on its way to a 6-3 victory over South Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Baum Stadium in SEC baseball action. Arkansas improves to 30-20 and 12-13 in the SEC while the loss drops the Gamecocks to 34-17 and 13-13 in the conference. The final game of the series is scheduled for 1:05 pm ET on Sunday afternoon with a curfew scheduled for 4:30 pm ET as no inning can start after that time due to South Carolina travel. The game can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network and gamecocksonline.com with Mike Morgan and Tommy Moody on the call.
With South Carolina leading 3-2, the Razorbacks mounted the rally against Gamecock starter Nick Godwin. Logan Forsythe worked the count full to lead off the inning then singled to left field followed by a one-out single by Andy Wilkins to put runners on first and second base. Tim Smalling then tied the game for the Hogs as he delivered a RBI base hit to center field scoring Forsythe. With runners on first and third Godwin coaxed Jeff Nutt into a ground ball to second base. On the play, Scott Wingo fielded cleanly and threw to second for the force out. Gamecock shortstop Reese Havens looked to turn the double play but threw wide of first base allowing Wilkins to score from second base and to give the Razorbacks a one-run lead. Sean Jones then hit a RBI bloop base hit that just got out of the reach of second baseman Scott Wingo to score the third run of the inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Arkansas scored its fourth run of the inning on a RBI infield single as Ben Tschepikow drubbed a slow roller to third off of Gamecock reliever Craig Thomas to give Arkansas the 6-3 cushion.
Arkansas reliever Mike Bolsinger earned the win and is 4-0 on the year. He worked 3.1 innings out of the bullpen and allowed just one run on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Godwin suffered the loss for Carolina and is 5-3 on the year. He allowed six runs on six hits in 6.2 innings of work with three strikeouts and two walks.
South Carolina finished with a 10-7 advantage in hits despite the loss. Andrew Crisp went 3-for-4 with James Darnell and Havens also tallying two hits apiece as well. Arkansas was led by Tschepikow and Forsythe, who were each 2-for-4 in the contest.
South Carolina broke ahead 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Havens singled to lead off the inning and would score on a two-out RBI infield single by James Darnell. Arkansas would push across two runs in the bottom half though to gain a 2-1 advantage. Chase Leavitt drew a leadoff walk and Ben Tschepikow hit a bloop single to right center to give the Razorbacks a pair of runners with no outs. Forsythe continued to swing a hot bat as he laced a RBI base hit into center scoring Leavitt and advancing Tschepikow to third base. The advance to third proved crucial as Godwin got Casey Coon to ground into a double play that allowed Tschepikow to score.
The Gamecocks tied the game 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning. Whit Merrifield reached base on a bunt single, stole second base and scored on a two-out RBI single by Phil Disher. The Gamecocks would get another base hit from Andrew Crisp to put a pair of runners on base and knock Arkansas starting pitcher Cliff Springston from the game. He lasted 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout. South Carolina regained the lead briefly in the top of the seventh inning as Havens delivered with a solo home run to left field. It marked his 14th home run of the season.
Sunday’s game will pit South Carolina sophomore right-hander Blake Cooper (5-4, 3.72 ERA) against Arkansas sophomore left-hander Dallas Keuchel (3-2, 4.37 ERA).
