March 15, 2014
| Highlights |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Top ranked South Carolina rallied from three runs down with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Ole Miss 5-4 in 10 innings. A two-out RBI single by Connor Bright and a two-run homer by pinch hitter Max Schrock tied it in the ninth with pinch hitter Brison Celek winning it for the Gamecocks in the 10th frame with a RBI single. The Gamecocks are now 17-1 and 1-1 in the SEC with Ole Miss 17-3 and 1-1 in league play. The final game of the doubleheader is the rubber game of the series with first pitch set for 6:45 p.m.
Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Gamecocks mounted a rally. With two outs and Tanner English on second base, Connor Bright knocked a 1-2 pitch for a base hit to score English and bring the Gamecocks within a pair of runs. Enter Max Schrock. Not in the starting lineup due to a sprained ankle, Schrock came to the plate against Ole Miss right-hander Josh Laxer. Down to his final strike, Schrock launched a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall tying the game and setting off an eruption in Carolina Stadium. Right-hander Joel Seddon worked out of a first and third jam in the 10th inning with one out as he fanned both Austin Anderson and Will Allen on strikeouts to preserve the tie. Grayson Greiner followed with a leadoff single in the bottom of the 10th. After a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Gore moved him into scoring position, Celek knocked a RBI single to right field scoring Greiner and sealing the victory.
Seddon earned the win and is 1-0 on the year. Ole Miss reliever Matt Denny suffered the loss and is now 0-1 on the season.
Ole Miss broke ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning. After a balk advanced Austin Anderson into scoring position, Will Allen laced a two-out RBI double to left field. Despite four hits in the innings, the Gamecocks managed to hold the Rebels to just a run as Wynkoop picked off Auston Bousfield at first base after a leadoff single and Elliott Caldwell threw out Allen at home plate trying to score after a two-out single by Brantley Bell.
The Rebels extended the lead to 4-0 in the third inning. Braxton Lee reached base with one out on a fielding error by Gamecock shortstop Marcus Mooney. After Anderson was hit by a pitch, Allen drove in his second run of the game his second double of the afternoon to left field. Bell added a RBI single and Preston Overbey hit sac fly to left field giving the Rebels a four-run lead. South Carolina sophomore left-hander Jack Wynkoop allowed four runs, two earned, on seven hits with a strikeout in three innings of work.
Freshman right-hander Reed Scott came in and provided a boost for the Gamecocks as he kept the Rebels in check the rest of the way. Scott did not allow a run in six innings of relief with no walks, just three hits and six strikeouts.
As Scott held off the Rebels offense, Carolina scratched across a run in the bottom of the sixth to get on the scoreboard. Joey Pankake reached on a one-out single to center and advanced to third on a double to right field off the bat of Kyle Martin. After a walk to Grayson Greiner loaded the bases, Pankake would score on Weber Pike’s fielder’s choice.
The Gamecock defense also responded in the top of the eighth as they threw out a pair of Ole Miss runners at home trying to score. Braxton Lee would be gunned down at home by Pankake for the second out of the inning after a grounder to third and Allen would be thrown out at home for the second time as Caldwell recorded his second assist in the afternoon from the outfield as he threw a strike to Greiner to nab Allen and keep the Gamecocks within three runs.
South Carolina had 14 hits with Ole Miss finishing with 12 for the afternoon. Bright, Caldwell, Pankake, Mooney and English all had two hits for the Gamecocks. Ole Miss was led by three-hit games from Lee and Allen.
