May 12, 2013

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Eight of nine position starters for 12th ranked South Carolina had at least one hit and freshman left-hander Jack Wynkoop worked five-plus innings to earn his seventh win of the season as the Gamecocks defeated Georgia 8-3 to sweep a three-game SEC series at Carolina Stadium on Mother’s Day. South Carolina is now 37-14 and 16-10 in the SEC with Georgia 18-31 and 5-19 in league play.

Wynkoop is now 7-2 on the year after going five-plus innings and allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Georgia starting pitcher Jared Walsh suffered the loss and is 2-4 on the year. He allowed five runs on five hits in three-plus innings of work with five strikeouts and three walks.

Georgia grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. With two outs and runners on the corners, Hunter Cole drilled a two-run double to left field scoring both Nelson Ward and Curt Powell.

South Carolina answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Grayson Greiner would drive in a run with a two-out RBI single and Brison Celek knocked in a pair with a two-out single as well. The Gamecocks got going with a one-out base hit by Graham Saiko followed by a base hit from Joey Pankake with two outs to give Carolina runners on the corners. Greiner would drive in Saiko with a single down the third base line as he knocked a 1-2 pitch that UGA third baseman Curt Powell could not corral. After a Max Schrock walk loaded the bases, Celek drilled the first pitch he saw from Walsh for a single up the middle scoring both Pankake and Greiner.

The Gamecocks increased the lead to 6-2 with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kyle Martin led off with a walk and Tanner English reached base with a bunt for a base hit. After a wild pitch from Walsh, the Bulldogs went to the bullpen for right-hander Ross Ripple. Saiko would drive in Martin with a RBI groundout and Chase Vergason would drive in English with a base hit to right field. After a wild pitch advanced Vergason into scoring position, Pankake reached base for the third time with a base hit to right scoring Vergason.

Carolina would scratch across two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Martin doubled with one out off the wall in right field and scored on Tanner English’s RBI double to left-center. After a passed ball, English scored on Saiko’s sacrifice fly to center. Georgia would score an unearned run in the ninth inning on a two-out RBI base hit by Heath Holder.

Adam Westmoreland pitched three scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts out of the bullpen. Tyler Webb allowed one run, unearned, on two hits with two strikeouts in the top of the ninth.

Carolina’s 12-hit afternoon included a 3-for-3 game for Pankake as well as two hits by Greiner and English. Both English and Martin scored two runs. Saiko and Celek drove in two runs apiece. Curt Powell was 3-for-3 to lead Georgia with Holder 2-for-4 as well.

South Carolina is back in action on Tuesday hosting Presbyterian in the final home game of the regular season. First pitch is at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Carolinas and Fox Sports South and can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”