Oct. 31, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A two-run triple by Elliott Caldwell in the bottom of the eighth inning helped lift Black to a 5-3 win over Garnet on Friday in game one of the Garnet & Black World Series.
A one-out error allowed Matt Williams to reach base in the eighth and pinch hitter Taylor Widener drew a walk to give the Black team a pair of runners. With two outs, Caldwell lined a triple into center that just got past a diving Gene Cone in center field to score a pair of runs.
Garnet looked to tie it up in the ninth inning as they loaded the bases with one out but Widener was able to coax consecutive fielder’s choices including one at home plate to seal the victory for the Black squad.
Black took a 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. A pair of one-out walks to Jordan Gore and DC Arendas and a wild pitch set the stage for Patrick Harrington, who roped a two-run single to center field.
Garnet tied it at 2-2 in the top of the third inning. Gene Cone drew a two-out walk and Marcus Mooney reached on a bunt for a base hit to give the Garnet team a pair of runners. A base hit to left field by Max Schrock scooted past Harrington in left field allowing both runners to score and tie the game.
Black regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jared Williams doubled to left field with one out and scored on Clark Scolamiero’s RBI single up the middle. Garnet answered in the top of the fifth to tie it up again. Kyle Martin’s sacrifice fly made it 3-3 as he lifted a fly ball into left field to score Everett Eynon.
GAMECHANGER
Elliott Caldwell’s two-run triple in the eighth inning was the game-winning hit for Black.
KEY STAT
Relievers Matthew Vogel, Preston Johnson and Taylor Widener combined for four innings of scoreless relief for the Black team.
NOTABLES
Patrick Harrington led Black with two hits at the plate and reached base three times. He also stole a base.
Marcus Mooney had two hits to lead the Garnet team at the plate.
Junior left-hander Jack Wynkoop started for Black and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits in five innings of work. He struck out three and walked two. Junior left-hander Vince Fiori started for Black and allowed three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and five walks in 3.1 innings of work.
Sophomore left-hander John Parke pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief for Garnet.
UP NEXT
Saturday’s scrimmage has been postponed due to anticipated poor weather. The two teams will meet in game two of the series on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Carolina Stadium. Admission is free.
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South Carolina won the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2010 and 2011 at the College World Series. South Carolina has 11 College World Series appearances, including six in the last 13 years. The Gamecocks own the second-highest win total in the nation in the last 15 years (2000 to the present) with a 713-289 record. South Carolina is one of five schools to appear in the NCAA Regional every season in the last 15 years, including 11 NCAA Super Regional appearances in that span, one of only two schools to accomplish the feat.
