May 15, 2010
Fayetteville, Ark. – South Carolina starting pitcher Sam Dyson pitched a six-hit complete game shutout with the offense backed by a two-run homer by Brady Thomas as the Gamecocks defeated Arkansas 5-0 on Saturday afternoon to clinch a three-game SEC baseball series at Baum Stadium. The Gamecocks are now 40-11 and 19-7 in the SEC while the loss drops Arkansas to 38-13 and 16-10 in conference play. With the win, it marks the 11th straight season that South Carolina has won 40 or more games dating back to 2000. The two teams will meet in the series finale set for 2:05 p.m. ET on Sunday and will be televised live on Cox Sports as well as a tape delay broadcast on CSS and ESPN3.com. The game can also be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network and at GamecocksOnline.com.
Dyson had a tremendous outing as he limited the Razorbacks to just six hits and walked only two on the afternoon. He struck out eight batters and went to only three three-ball counts in the game. He is now 5-4 on the year. This is his second complete game shutout of the season and the third by a Gamecock pitcher. Dyson hurled a seven-inning complete game shutout in a win over Georgia and Blake Cooper had a complete game shutout in a win over Ole Miss. Arkansas starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger suffered the loss and is now 5-3 on the year. He worked 7.2 innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
“I was happy to see Dyson have a great day,” said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner. “He pitched extremely well. Bolsinger matched him for the most part for Arkansas. Dyson works hard and his velocity was good today. He gave us a chance to win and we played great defense behind him.”
The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Adrian Morales reached base with one out on a fielder’s choice and Brady Thomas drew a two-out walk to give Carolina a pair of runners. On a 3-1 pitch, Bobby Haney drove a RBI single up the middle scoring Morales.
That lead was extended to 3-0 in the top of the fourth as Thomas delivered with a two-run homer to right center. Jeffery Jones reached base with a leadoff single and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Bolsinger. With two outs and a 1-0 count, Thomas drilled his seventh home run of the year to right field. Thomas has now tallied 19 extra base hits out of his 30 hits for the season.
South Carolina added to the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to go ahead 5-0 and chase Bolsinger in the process. The Gamecocks caught a break in the start of the frame as Scott Wingo reached base on a fielding error by Arkansas first baseman Andy Wilkins. After a sacrifice bunt by Merrifield advanced Wingo to second, Jackie Bradley Jr. roped a double to the gap in right center scoring Wingo. That was followed up by a RBI base hit from Christian Walker to right field scoring Bradley.
Both teams finished with six hits on the afternoon. Six different Gamecocks tallied hits with Arkansas led by shortstop Tim Carver, who was 2-for-4 for the Razorbacks.
Heading into the season, the Gamecocks were one of only eight Division I schools and the only SEC school to have recorded 40 or more wins each year dating back to 2000.
The Gamecocks have won eight of nine SEC series on the year.
South Carolina will either start sophomore left-hander Nolan Belcher (3-0, 2.19 ERA) or freshman left-hander Tyler Webb (2-2, 3.82 ERA) in Sunday’s series finale. The starter for Arkansas is to be announced.
