May 13, 2008
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Columbia, S.C. – Whit Merrifield went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Reese Havens and Justin Smoak added a pair of home runs as South Carolina defeated The Citadel 10-2 on Tuesday evening in non-conference action at Sarge Frye Field. The Gamecocks improve to 35-18 on the year while the loss drops The Citadel to 25-27 this season. Carolina heads into the final week of SEC play hosting Tennessee in the first of a three-game series beginning Thursday night at 7 pm.
Merrifield’s three hits tied a season-high and led the Gamecocks on the evening. He owns a seven-game hitting streak. Kyle Enders and Phil Disher also had two hits apiece as well. Havens’ home run was his 15th of the year with Justin Smoak hitting his 20th of the season. Smoak’s homer ties him for seventh on the SEC All-Time list with 59 in his three-year career with the Garnet & Black. He also tallied three RBI to move into third on the South Carolina career RBI list with 194 career RBI, moving past Landon Powell (193; 2001-02-03-04).
Carolina freshman right-hander Sam Dyson earned the win and improved to 7-0 on the year. He worked 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Bulldogs starter Matt Talley lasted only 0.1 innings and suffered the loss. He is 1-4 on the year. Talley allowed five runs on two hits and four walks and faced just seven batters in the game.
South Carolina went ahead 5-0 in the bottom of the first inning as Talley struggled with his control. Whit Merrifield reached base on a one-out double followed by walks to Justin Smoak and James Darnell that loaded the bases. Phil Disher laced a RBI single to left field for the first Carolina run. With the bases still loaded, Talley couldn’t find the zone as Andrew Crisp and Harley Lail each walked to increase the Gamecock lead to three runs. Kyle Enders then greeted new Citadel pitcher Timmy Martin with a two-run single that gave Carolina the five-run edge.
South Carolina increased the advantage to 6-0 in the bottom of the second with Crisp driving in his second run with a two-out RBI single that scored Merrifield. The Citadel would get two runs back in the top of the third inning as Kyle Jordan connected for a two-run homer. Carolina scored a single run in the bottom half of the third to go ahead 7-2 as Reese Havens hit a solo home run for his 15th of the year. It remained 7-2 until the eighth inning when Smoak launched his 20th home run of the season to left center.
All three South Carolina-Tennessee games will be available on the Gamecock Radio Network and at gamecocksonline.com with Mike Morgan and Tommy Moody on the call. Thursday and Friday games will also feature live video broadcast at gamecocksonline.com.
