March 24, 2015
CONWAY, S.C. – Connor Owings’ one-out RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted Coastal Carolina to a 9-8 win over eighth ranked South Carolina on Tuesday evening at Springs Brooks Stadium. The Gamecocks are now 18-7 on the year with Coastal Carolina 18-6 on the year.
The Gamecocks rallied from a four-run deficit to take an 8-6 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth. South Carolina fought back in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs to cut the deficit to two. The Gamecocks took advantage of a pair of balks to score a run and Connor Bright drove in Alex Destino with a two-out RBI single. In the sixth inning, Logan Koch led off with a single and Jordan Gore drew a walk to open the frame. A sac bunt by Gene Cone was not fielded cleanly by CCU catcher Casey Schroeder to load the bases with no outs. Pinch runner Clark Scolamiero scored on a wild pitch, Max Schrock tallied a RBI single, Martin belted a RBI double and Caldwell added a sac fly to give the Gamecocks a two-run cushion.
It remained that way until the bottom of the eighth when Coastal tied it with a pair of runs. Zach Remillard led off with a single and Casey Schroeder doubled to give the Chanticleers runners on second and third with no outs. David Parrett would drive in Remillard with a sac fly to center and Schroeder scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Tied 8-8, Josh Crump led off the bottom of the 11th with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, Owings knocked a 1-2 pitch to center field for a base hit to seal the game for Coastal Carolina.
Both teams had eight hits for the evening. Schrock went 3-for-5 with two runs to lead the Gamecocks. Owings and Remillard had two apiece to lead Coastal Carolina.
Coastal went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the 1st inning on a solo home run by Owings, his third of the season. Owings sent a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall to give the Chants a one-run lead.
South Carolina took advantage of a pair of Coastal Carolina errors to go ahead 2-1 in the top of the third inning. Max Schrock reached second base with one out on a throwing error by CCU pitcher Shane Sawczak and scored on a misjudged fly ball by CCU left fielder Al Molina. Kyle Martin would score the Gamecocks’ second run on Elliott Caldwell’s one-out RBI single up the middle. Coastal Carolina went ahead 6-2 in the fourth inning benefiting from six walks from the Gamecocks as well as a pair of hits.
GAME CHANGER
Owings’ RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave Coastal Carolina a one-run victory
KEY STAT
Coastal Carolina right-hander Andrew Beckwith pitched 3.1 innings of hitless relief with no runs and just one walk to earn the win for the Chanticleers. He is now 2-0 on the year.
NOTABLES
• Elliott Caldwell’s third inning RBI single extended his hitting streak to eight games. He has reached base in 19 consecutive games.
• Kyle Martin’s sixth inning RBI double extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games. He has reached base in 16 straight games.
• Max Schrock went 3-for-5 tying his season-high for hits. It marked the third game this season he has tallied three hits in game.
• Gene Cone tied a school record for putouts by an outfielder with nine in the contest. His nine putouts tie him with Jon Coutlangus, who had nine vs. Florida on Mar. 23, 2002.
• Sophomore right-hander Reed Scott retired 12 consecutive batters before a pair of hits by Coastal Carolina in the bottom of the eighth. Scott allowed two runs on two hits in four innings with no walks and two strikeouts.
• South Carolina has played seven consecutive games decided by three runs or less and is 3-4 in those contests. Four of the last seven games have gone into extra innings. The Gamecocks are 1-3 in extra inning games this year.
QUOTABLE
South Carolina Head Coach Chad Holbrook
Congratulations to Coastal. We kind of imploded in the fourth. We fought back and competed. You have to give credit to (Coastal reliever Mike) Morrison, he settled in and (Andrew) Beckwith was phenomenal. Tough loss, but proud of my team for competing and how we fought back. We just couldn’t get the big hit at the end.
UP NEXT
South Carolina returns home to begin a three-game SEC series with Georgia at Carolina Stadium. First pitch for the opener is set for Friday at 7 p.m. Game two of the series is Saturday at 4 p.m. On Saturday, the Gamecocks will honor the 1975 team that finished as national runner-up before the contest. Sunday’s series finale is 1:30 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus and can be heard live on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game,” and 1320 AM, “The Fan.”
