May 29, 2009

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery

– South Carolina has now won the opening game of NCAA Regional action 17 consecutive times. The streak started in 1984 and has continued through to 2009.

Head coach Ray Tanner is now 48-24 in NCAA Tournament games as Carolina’s head coach. Coach Tanner is 11-0 in opening games of NCAA Tournament play at South Carolina as well.

Parker Bangs’ home run in the top of the fourth inning increased the Gamecocks season total to 100 on the year. South Carolina has now tallied 100 or more home runs three consecutive years and in seven of the last 10 seasons.

2000    1052001    1102002    1222003    682004    1062005    732006    922007    1132008    1102009    102

Jackie Bradley, Jr.’s home run in the sixth inning made him the sixth Gamecock player this year to reach double digits in home runs.

Nick Ebert    22DeAngelo Mack   14Justin Dalles  12Whit Merrifield   11Jackie Bradley Jr. 10Andrew Crisp 10

With a solo home run in the seventh inning, Nick Ebert is now tied for the second highest single-season home run total. Ebert is tied with Justin Smoak (2008) and Joe Datin (25) with 23 home runs on the year. The school record is 29, set by Yaron Peters in 2002.

Whit Merrifield’s RBI single in the fourth inning extended his current hitting streak to 11 games.

Parker Bangs tied a career-high with three hits on the afternoon. Bangs also had three hits in a 12-10 win at Ole Miss on April 10, 2009.

Bobby Haney also tied his career-high with three hits vs. George Mason. This is the third time this season he has tallied three hits. He also had three in a 20-19 win over Kentucky on March 29 and in a 8-4 win over Duquesne on February 22.