Feb. 13, 2015

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – A three-run fifth inning led 25th ranked College of Charleston to a 6-3 win over fifth ranked South Carolina on Opening Day in front of 8,013 fans at Carolina Stadium. The Cougars out-hit the Gamecocks 14-4 on the way to the win. Both teams are back in action tomorrow in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

The Gamecocks and the Cougars traded runs early in the game. Both teams loaded the bases early, Connor Bright walked to score Gene Cone for South Carolina in the bottom of the first and Morgan Phillips scored on Alex Pastorius’ RBI groundout for College of Charleston in the top of the second.

The Cougars broke ahead 4-1 as they pushed across three runs in the top of the fifth. Pastorius opened the frame with a single to left and scored on Blake Butler’s base hit to right. Carl Wise brought home Ryan Brown with a sacrifice fly and Phillips followed with the Cougars’ fourth hit of the inning to score Butler.

College of Charleston added runs in the seven and eighth to increase the advantage to five runs.

The Gamecocks attempted a rally in the bottom of the eighth, but were only able to record two more runs. Jordan Gore led off with a base hit and Max Schrock and Gene Cone each walked to load the bases with no outs. A Kyle Martin sacrifice fly scored Gore and Max Schrock scored on Alex Destino’s RBI single to center.

College of Charleston starter Taylor Clarke earned the win after hurling six innings and allowing just one run on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Gamecock left-hander Jack Wynkoop suffered the loss for South Carolina after giving up four runs, all earned, on eight hits, with one walk and striking out two batters in five innings of work.

GAME CHANGER

The Cougars broke a 1-1 tie, plating three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth.

KEY STAT College of Charleston out-hit the Gamecocks 14-4.

NOTABLES

• With the loss, South Carolina now leads the overall series 48-7 against the Cougars.
• With the loss, the Gamecocks are now 84-39 on opening day in school history. Prior to today South Carolina had won 16-straight opening day contests.
• The last time South Carolina lost on Opening Day was in 1998 to College of Charleston.
• Freshman Alex Destino recorded his first career RBI.
• Freshman Clarke Schmidt made his first career appearance and pitched one scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout.
• Max Schrock drew a team-high two walks. In the last two season openers, he tallied a total of six walks. Schrock also stole a base and scored a run.

QUOTABLE South Carolina Head Coach Chad Holbrook

Opening Statement
“Congratulations to the College of Charleston. I think the story of the game was Taylor Clarke on the mound. He just dominated our hitters and I thought we’d put up a bit more of a fight than we did. It was a little disappointing. I apologize to our fans, it was a cold day and we couldn’t give them anything to get excited about. I’m disappointed from what occurred from an offensive standpoint and it’s my responsibility, we have to do better. But also, we have to give credit where credit is due. Sometimes in baseball, the guy on the bump can dictate what occurs in a game and their guy dictated the game. We had a chance there with the bases loaded in the first inning, might have been our chance to win the game there but we just couldn’t get a big hit. College of Charleston outplayed us and their starting pitcher did a phenomenal job. Their hitters were certainly more competitive in the batter’s box than we were and that’s disappointing. We’ll try to crank it up tomorrow and see if we can perform better and do better, because our performance from an offensive standpoint today was inexcusable. But, the good thing about baseball is you get to play again real quick, there’s a quick turn around, and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow at 1 o’clock.”

Junior Left-Hander Jack Wynkoop
On the College of Charleston batters today
“They grinded out at-bats and they took big swings early and shortened up late. They especially did that the second and third time through the order. You have to give that team some respect because they came out to hit today and made some plays.”

UP NEXT

Due to anticipated cold weather, Sunday’s baseball game vs. College of Charleston has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The second game will start 45 minutes after the completion of game one. Both games will be nine innings. All tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s games will be honored for the doubleheader. Season ticket holders attending both games are asked to bring both tickets to the stadium. Fans with tickets to only Saturday game may stay for the second contest in the standing room only sections. Fans with tickets to only Sunday’s originally scheduled game may come for the first game of the doubleheader and watch the game in the standing room only sections as well. Both games will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus. Due to conflict with the men’s basketball game at Kentucky, the baseball game will be available on 1320 AM in Columbia as well.

TWEET OF THE GAME