April 4, 2014
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – Top ranked South Carolina rallied with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat Arkansas 2-1 on Friday afternoon in game one of a doubleheader. The Gamecocks are 26-3 and 7-3 in the SEC with Arkansas 18-12 and 4-6 in league play. Game two of the doubleheader is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET.
Trailing 1-0 entering the top of the eighth inning, the Gamecocks broke through as DC Arendas got things started with a one-out double to the gap in right-center. He would score in the next at bat as Tanner English knocked a RBI double down the left field line. With two outs and English still on second base, Marcus Mooney hit a RBI single into right field giving the Gamecocks a one-run lead. Mooney has tallied 10 of his 13 RBI with two outs this year.
South Carolina junior left-hander Jordan Montgomery earned the win. He pitched seven-plus innings and allowed one run on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. His nine strikeouts tied a season high he set vs. Clemson on February 28. Right-hander Cody Mincey followed with a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts and right-hander Joel Seddon closed it out with a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts as well. Seddon now has eight saves on the year. Arkansas starter Trey Killian suffered the loss and is 1-5 for the season. He allowed two runs on six hits in 7.2 innings with two walks and five strikeouts.
The Gamecocks had seven hits to just four for Arkansas. Mooney and English each were 2-for-3 to lead the Gamecocks.
Both teams had limited opportunities in the first five innings. Arkansas went ahead in the sixth inning. Brian Anderson reached base with a one-out single. With two outs and Anderson on third base, Blake Baxendale knocked a double off the wall in left-center for the first run of the game.
