April 13, 2013
Gainesville, Fla. – Tied at 4-4 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Florida batted around to score 10 runs on eight hits on the way to 14-5 victory over eighth ranked South Carolina on Saturday afternoon to sweep a three-game SEC series at McKethan Stadium. South Carolina is now 27-10 and 8-7 in the league with the Gators 19-18 and 8-7 in the SEC.
Trailing by three runs after the second inning, the Gamecocks mounted a comeback with a two-run homer by Max Schrock in the third inning and behind three scoreless innings by Jack Wynkoop and a RBI on a fielder’s choice from LB Dantzler tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.
The Gators struck in the bottom half of the sixth though as 10 consecutive batters reached base to open the inning on the way to 10 runs. Vickash Ramjit led off with a double and Connor Mitchell singled to begin things for the Gators. With Evan Beal on in relief, Harrison Bader walked on four pitches to load the bases. The Gamecocks would bring in left-hander Vince Fiori. The Gators counted with pinch hitter Josh Tobias who singled on the first pitch he saw from Fiori to score a run. Casey Turgeon followed with a bloop single to left field and Richie Martin drove in two more with a base hit. Taylor Gushue would be hit by a pitch to end the day for Fiori. With Curt Britt on in relief, the Gators tacked on three more hits as Justin Shafer drove in two runs with a double followed by a single by Zack Powers and a double by Ramjit, his second double of the inning. Mitchell’s RBI ground out and a sac fly by Bader made 14-4 for the Gators. Carolina would score once in the eighth inning on a RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Max Schrock.
Schrock went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI to lead the Gamecocks. Chase Vergason and Grayson Greiner had two hits apiece as well. The Gators finished with 17 hits including three from Turgeon, Powers and Ramjit. Shafter and Martin had two apiece also.
Florida reliever Daniel Gibson earned the win in relief for the Gators. He is 2-0 on the year. South Carolina freshman left-hander Jack Wynkoop suffered the loss and is now 4-2 for the season. He allowed two runs on three hits in three innings of work.
South Carolina broke ahead 1-0 in the top of the second inning. Schrock led off with a base hit. A one-out single from Greiner followed by Joey Pankake plunked on a first pitch from UF starter Jay Carmichael loaded the bases for Carolina. With two outs, Schrock would score on a walk to Saiko.
Florida batted around and knocked Gamecock starter Colby Holmes from the game with four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Powers singled with one out and after a balk advanced to third on Ramjit’s single. A Gamecock miscue resulted in momentum then for the Gators. Connor Mitchell set down a safety squeeze that Powers would score on. On the play first baseman LB Dantzler flipped home but the ball went past Gamecock catcher Grayson Greiner and allowed both Ramjit and Mitchell to move up to second and third base. Bader drove in Ramjit with a RBI single and Cody Dent had a sacrifice squeeze to push Florida ahead 4-1.
Carolina would answer in the top of the third to cut the deficit to one run. After Celek drew a one-out walk, Schrock launched a two-run homer to right field. Schrock knocked a 1-0 pitch from UF reliever Bobby Poyner over the wall in right field for his 3rd homer of the season. The Gamecocks tied it at 4-4 in the sixth inning. Pankake singled to lead off the inning with Saiko and Vergason reaching base with one-out singles to load the bases. Dantzler would drive in Pankake with a fielder’s choice on a putout at second base.
The Gamecocks return home and will next be in action on Tuesday, April 16 hosting College of Charleston. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. with the game televised live on SportSouth and available on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
