March 4, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Top-ranked South Carolina scored six runs in the first two innings on the way to a 7-1 victory over Stetson on Tuesday afternoon. The Gamecocks improve to 11-0 on the year while the loss drops Stetson to 2-10.
Freshman left-hander Josh Reagan worked five innings allowing one run, unearned, on six hits while striking out six batters to pick up the win and is now 2-0 on the year. Matthew Vogel hurled two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out two batters. Taylor Widener and John Parke each added scoreless innings as well to close it out for the Gamecocks.
Grayson Greiner went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Max Schrock and Marcus Mooney had two hits apiece while Joey Pankake accounted for a pair of RBI and scored two runs.
South Carolina broke ahead 2-0 in the first inning with a two-run single off the bat of Grayson Greiner. With two outs, Joey Pankake reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A walk to Kyle Martin and a single by Connor Bright would set the stage for Greiner, who crushed a 1-0 pitch up the middle to bring home both Pankake and Martin.
Stetson would cut the Gamecocks’ lead in half in the top of the second. A pair of errors by Reagan would allow Kyle Zech to reach second base and a single to right field by Tanner Blackman advanced him to third. Zech would score on Kevin Fagan’s two-out RBI single.
The Gamecocks responded with four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 6-1 lead over the Hatters. With the bases loaded after a pair of base hits and a walk, Pankake knocked the first pitch he saw to right field driving in two runs. Martin drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to center field and Pankake would then score the final run of the inning on another RBI single from Greiner.
South Carolina chased Stetson starter Josh Powers after five innings. The junior right-hander allowed six runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out three batters and is now 1-2 on the year.
Gene Cone scored the seventh run for the Garnet and Black on Max Schrock’s sacrifice fly to center field in the sixth inning.
South Carolina and Stetson will face off again on Wednesday with first pitch slated for 4 p.m. The Gamecocks will send sophomore RHP Curt Britt to the mound. Live broadcast is available at GamecocksOnline.com. The game can also be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
