March 28, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mike Bell’s RBI single in the top of the 11th lifted Georgia to a 6-5 win over seventh-ranked South Carolina in resumption of Friday night’s game. The Bulldogs improve to 17-10 and 4-3 in the SEC while the loss drops the Gamecocks to 18-8 and 4-3 in league play.
The Bulldogs got on the board early with a run in the top of the first. Skyler Weber drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on a single by Daniel Nichols and scored on a wild pitch from Gamecock starter Wil Crowe.
South Carolina pushed across a run in the bottom of the third to tie the game a 1-1. After a pair of walks to Jordan Gore and Max Schrock put two runners on base, Kyle Martin singled up the middle to drive in Gore.
The Gamecocks followed with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 3-1 lead. A two-run single off the bat of Schrock with the bases loaded drove in Logan Koch and Gore.
Georgia tied it in the sixth inning. Skyler Weber and Zack Bowers opened the sixth with a pair of singles to put two runners on base for the Bulldogs. Brandon Stephens drove in Weber with a RBI single and Keegan McGovern followed with a two-out RBI double to bring home Bowers and tie the game at 3-3.
South Carolina responded with a run in the bottom of the six as DC Arendas opened frame with a leadoff walk and scored after three consecutive two-out walks, giving the Gamecocks a 4-3 advantage.
Bowers put the Bulldogs ahead 5-4 with a two-run double to left-center in the top of the seventh.
A pair of wild pitches from Georgia reliever Bo Tucker scored a run for South Carolina in bottom of the eighth. With one out and Schrock and Gene Cone on first and second, respectively, Tucker through wild to advance both runners in to scoring position. While intentionally walking Martin, Tucker threw a second wild pitch allowing Cone to score.
The game was halted due to rain prior to the start of the ninth inning and resumed Saturday afternoon.
Georgia opened the top of the 11th with a leadoff single off the bat of Keegan McGovern. Trevor Kieboom then sacrificed pinch runner DJ Smith over to second and Mike Bell brought him home with a RBI single up the middle.
Junior left-hander Jack Wynkoop suffers the loss in relief after allowing one run on three hits while striking out five batters in three innings of work. Georgia reliever Jared Cheek worked 3.2 scoreless innings to earn the win allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out three batters.
GAME CHANGER
Mike Bell’s RBI single in the top of the 11th broke a 5-5 tie.
KEY STAT Georgia reliever Jared Cheek worked 3.2 scoreless innings allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out three batters.
NOTABLES
- Max Schrock tallied his 23rd RBI of the season and team-leading 21st walk.
- Kyle Martin drove in his team-leading 26th RBI of the season. He extended his hitting streak to 13 straight games and has reached base in 16 consecutive games.
- The Gamecocks tallied a season high 15 walks.
- This marked South Carolina’s fifth extra inning game of the season.
- Jordan Gore tied a career high of three hits in a game.
UP NEXT The Gamecocks and Bulldogs continue with game two of the three-game series with first pitch set for 5:50 p.m. at Carolina Stadium. The game is available on SEC Network + can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
