Oct. 25, 2009
Columbia, S.C. – After falling in the opener on Thursday night, the Garnet squad came back on Sunday with victories of 7-6 and 8-2 in a doubleheader to win South Carolina’s Garnet & Black World Series to close out fall scrimmages at Carolina Stadium. Senior first baseman Nick Ebert was stellar at the plate this afternoon with a combined five hits in both games including a pair of home runs. Senior right-hander Jay Brown and freshman left-hander Tyler Webb each hurled quality starts to help lead their squads to victory.
The first game of the doubleheader saw Garnet break out to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings. Ebert launched a two-run homer in the first inning, freshman outfielder Evan Marzilli drove in a run in the second and sophomore Michael Roth had a two-run double in the third as the Garnet squad gained the early advantage. Brady Thomas added a RBI fielder’s choice in the seventh inning to increase the lead to 6-0.
Black made it a game in the bottom of the eighth with three runs as junior infielder Scott Wingo tallied a RBI base hit followed by a sacrifice fly from senior Jeffery Jones and a two-out RBI single by freshman infielder Christian Walker. After Ebert’s second home run put Garnet up 7-3, the Black squad look to rally one more time in the bottom of the ninth with three runs. Wingo drove in his second run with a double, Jackie Bradley Jr. had a sacrifice fly and pitcher Greg Harrison showed a lively bat with a RBI single. The rally would fall short though and Garnet edged out Black 7-6 to win the game.
Brown hurled four scoreless innings with just two hits allowed and struck out four. Freshman right-hander Ethan Carter also was strong with three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Anthony Iacomini, Scott Wingo and Christian Walker each had two hits to lead the Black squad at the plate.
In game two, Garnet rode the momentum of the victory to a strong start in the nightcap with five runs in the first inning. After loading the bases with no outs, Parker Bangs drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Adam Matthews, Robert Beary and Casey Rihn would all add RBIs in the inning as Garnet went ahead 5-0 over Black. Black cut into the Garnet lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third as Walker connected for a two-out two-run single to score Anthony Iacomini and Whit Merrifield.
Garnet however responded in the bottom of the fourth and scored a run on a wild pitch and Bangs’ second RBI sacrifice fly. Bobby Haney added a RBI single in the fifth inning as Garnet closed out the doubleheader with an 8-2 victory. Webb went four innings and allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts.
Relievers David de la Chapelle, Michael Roth, Matt Price and Parker Bangs finished the final three innings without allowing a run to close out the series for the Garnet squad. Haney and Ebert each had two hits in the second game to lead the Garnet squad.
