Feb. 17, 2015

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score | Quotes

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior outfielder Elliott Caldwell went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a three-run triple and freshman right-hander Clarke Schmidt worked 4.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn his first career win as fifth ranked South Carolina defeated Furman 5-2 on Tuesday afternoon at Carolina Stadium. The Gamecocks are now 3-1 on the year with Furman falling to 1-3 for the season.

Trailing 2-0, the Gamecocks broke ahead with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Logan Koch and Jordan Gore each singled to open the frame and Gene Cone was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. That set the stage for Caldwell, who launched a 1-2 pitch into the gap in right-center for a triple clearing the bases. Kyle Martin would add a RBI single to give the Gamecocks a two-run cushion.

South Carolina added a run in the fifth on a sac fly by Max Schrock.

GAME CHANGER

A three-run triple by Elliott Caldwell in the bottom of the third inning erased a two-run deficit for the Gamecocks.

KEY STAT Freshman right-hander Clarke Schmidt worked 4.2 scoreless innings with just three hits allowed, no walks and four strikeouts.

NOTABLES

• Elliott Caldwell’s third inning triple was the first of his career and the first triple by the Gamecocks for the season. He set a career-high with four hits. It was the most hits since he had three on Mar. 28, 2014 vs. Tennessee. Caldwell’s three RBI are a season-high by a Gamecock player this year as well. It also marked Caldwell’s second career game with two doubles. He also had two doubles vs. Brown, Mar. 8, 2014.
• Gene Cone and Jordan Gore have both hit safely in all four games this year and own five-game hitting streaks going back to last season.
• Freshman right-hander Brandon Murray picked up his first career save with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just two hits and struck out one batter in his second appearance for the Gamecocks.

• QUOTABLE

  South Carolina Head Coach Chad Holbrook

  Opening Statement
  “We certainly did enough to win the game today, even though it wasn’t good enough offensively, I don’t think we were good enough throughout the course of the game. Luckily, Elliott Caldwell was in the lineup, and he carried us offensively especially with that big hit with the bases loaded. We had some good swings and passes at it, one kid made a great play on Gene [Cone] in the first at bat of the game, that could have been a triple or double. We squared a few more balls up but it wasn’t quite good enough. I think the thing I take away from this game is what Clarke Schmidt and Brandon Murray did as well as what Elliott Caldwell did offensively. I think I’ve been saying for a while that Clarke and Brandon have the chance to be a big part of the future here, they have good arms, good demeanor and they compete. Their out there in a new environment and new situations, and they’re freshmen, but I sit there as their coach and I don’t feel like they’re freshmen when they’re in the game. They have a calming influence on me, and that’s a great compliment to a freshman. For the most part we played decently, we were just okay today, but we won the game, and we’ll try to get better on Thursday in practice, and get ready for the weekend and try to improve over the weekend.”

  UP NEXT

  The Gamecocks host Northeastern for a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon. First pitch on Friday is 4 p.m. with Saturday’s game at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s series finale scheduled for 1:30 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”.