Feb. 26, 2013
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Freshman left-hander Jack Wynkoop hurled 5.1 scoreless innings in his first career start and seventh ranked South Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie as the Gamecocks defeated Furman 5-2 on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Carolina Stadium. The Gamecocks are now 6-1 on the year with Furman now 5-2 for the season.
Wynkoop was dynamic as he scattered five hits with no walks while striking out a pair of batters. He earned his first career win and is now 1-0 on the year. Sophomore right-hander Evan Beal was also effective out of the pen with 2.2 perfect innings with three strikeouts. Senior left-hander Tyler Webb pitched one scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts to pick up his third save of the season. Furman reliever Elliott Warford suffered the loss and is now 0-1 on the year. He allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits in 2.1 innings with a walk.
Scoreless entering the bottom of the fifth, the Gamecocks made their move. Max Schrock doubled with one out, Graham Saiko walked and LB Dantzler singled to load the bases. Erik Payne would drive in Max Schrock on a RBI fielder’s choice. On the play, Saiko’s grounder was fielded cleanly by Furman third baseman Chris Ohmstede. He would get one out by tagging third base but a throwing error trying to nab Payne at first for the double play allowed both Schrock and Dantzler to score and give the Gamecocks a two-run lead. Grayson Greiner followed and made it 3-0 on a RBI single.
Carolina added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, the Gamecocks loaded the bases with no outs on a double by Chase Vergason, TJ Costen was hit by a pitch and Tanner English walked. With one out, Graham Saiko drove in Costen with a RBI sacrifice fly to right field. In the seventh, DC Arendas reached base with a one-out double, his first career hit as a Gamecock and scored on Costen’s two-out RBI triple to right field.
Furman threatened and scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning. Three consecutive singles by Hunter Burton, Taylor Johnson and Paul Nitto scored a run. A fourth straight hit by pinch hitter Griffin Davis scored Johnson but on the play, Davis would stumble trying to stretch his hit into a double and the Gamecocks would throw him out for the first out of the inning. Webb promptly struck out the next two batters to preserve the Carolina win.
Carolina finished the game with 10 hits while Furman tallied nine for the contest. Schrock and Vergason had two hits apiece to lead the Gamecocks. Will Muzika, Burton and Jordan Simpson had two hits apiece to lead Furman.
South Carolina returns to action this weekend with a three-game series against Clemson. Friday’s contest at Clemson is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s Reedy River Rivalry Game from Fluor Field in Greenville will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday’s series finale at Carolina Stadium will have a 3 p.m. first pitch. All three games can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
