March 15, 2011
Greenville, S.C. – Furman starting pitcher Daniel Stallsmith did not allow an earned run in 5.2 innings of work and Furman held off a late rally to defeat South Carolina 4-2 on Tuesday night in non-conference action at Fluor Field. Furman improves to 7-11 on the year while the loss drops Carolina to 11-3 for the season. South Carolina returns to action on Wednesday night hosting Wofford with first pitch at 7 p.m. at Carolina Stadium.
Stallsmith was effective and had some solid defense behind him the entire night as he limited the Gamecocks to just five hits and two unearned runs. He is now 2-1 on the year. Gamecock starter Adam Westmoreland allowed two runs on four hits in two innings of work in a limited stint to suffer the loss. He is 0-1 on the year. Furman closer Dylan Cole pitched a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout to pick up his third save of the year.
The Paladins broke ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Taylor Johnson led off with a single and would reach third base on a one-out single by J.B. Jenkins. Johnson then scored on a balk issued to Westmoreland. With Jenkins now in scoring position, Paul Nitto delivered a RBI base hit up the middle to give the Paladins a two-run advantage. Westmoreland allowed two runs on four hits in two innings of work in a limited stint.
Furman extended the lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Aaron Thompkins was a hit by a pitch and after a double by Will Muzika, Furman would load the bases on an intentional walk to Will Miller. With one out and the bags full, Johnson delivered his third hit of the game, a base hit up the middle that scored Thompkins.
Carolina scratched across a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to two runs. Adam Matthews led off with a bunt base hit and the Gamecocks then caught a break as second baseman Kevin O’Leary tried to turn a hard hit ball by Jackie Bradley Jr. for a double play but fumbled the ball allowing the Gamecocks to have a pair of runners on base with no outs. Adrian Morales would knock a one-out RBI single to left field scoring Matthews and Robert Beary added a two-out base hit to plate him Bradley as Carolina crept to within 4-2.
But that would be it for Carolina as the Paladins kept the Gamecocks off the scoreboard for the rest of the night. South Carolina had runners on first and second with one out in the eighth inning but Furman reliever Matt Plate was able to get a fielder’s choice out on a Jake Williams at-bat followed by a ground out to Brady Thomas to end Carolina’s threat. After a leadoff walk to Evan Marzilli in the top of the ninth, the next three Gamecock hitters were set down in order to end the ballgame.
Furman had 9-6 advantage in hits with Johnson finishing 3-for-3 with a run scored and Paul Nitto going 2-for-4 with a RBI as well. Morales was 2-for-4 with a RBI to lead the Gamecocks at the plate.
Gamecock reliever John Taylor hurled three scoreless innings of relief to keep the Gamecocks in the game and also had three strikeouts in his outing.
The loss on Tuesday also marks the first time in six years of competition that the Gamecocks have lost at Fluor Field. Carolina had won six games at the home of the Greenville Drive before Tuesday’s loss.
