April 21, 2013

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Freshman left-hander Jack Wynkoop hurled a career-high eight innings and allowed just one unearned run and LB Dantzler hit a two-run homer, his team-leading 12th of the season as 14th ranked South Carolina upended 17th ranked Kentucky 3-1 to sweep a three-game SEC series at Carolina Stadium. The Gamecocks are 31-10 and 11-7 in the SEC with Kentucky 24-15 and 7-11 in league play.

Wynkoop did not walk a batter and struck out three to improve to 5-2 on the year. He allowed nine hits in his eight-inning stint. His previous long outing was six innings vs. Ball State on March 5, 2013. Senior left-hander Tyler Webb pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn his 12th save of the year. Kentucky starter Corey Littrell suffered the loss and is 4-3 on the year. He allowed three runs on five hits in 7.2 innings with five walks and three strikeouts.

Kentucky took advantage of a Gamecock error to break ahead 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Austin Cousino reached base to open the frame on a fielding error on a grounder to first baseman LB Dantzler. After Cousino stole second base, he would score on A.J. Reed’s RBI double to the gap in right-center.

Dantzler atoned for his mistake in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer to give Carolina a 2-1 lead. Joey Pankake would lead off with a base hit to left-center. On a 0-1 pitch, Dantzler crushed a homer to straight away. The home run was estimated 410 feet.

The lead increased to 3-1 on a RBI single by Pankake in the bottom of the fifth. Graham Saiko would reach base with two outs on a walk and following Chase Vergason’s single up the middle, scored on Pankake’s RBI base hit to right field.

Kentucky threatened in the ninth inning with a leadoff walk to pinch hitter Jeff Boehm. Webb entered the game and struck out the next two batters before a two-out base hit by Lucas Witt. With runners on first and second, Zac Zellers laced a hard grounder to the left side of the infield. Shortstop Joey Pankake fielded cleanly and threw to third for the forceout ending the game and preserving the win.

Pankake had two hits to lead the Gamecocks. Reed went 3-for-4 and Zellers added two hits to lead Kentucky at the plate.

South Carolina is back in action on Tuesday night with a non-conference tilt vs. Gardner-Webb. The game will be at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. with first pitch at 6 p.m. The game can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game,” with live audio broadcast available on the All Access Channel at GamecocksOnline.