April 16, 2015

Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Carson Fulmer worked seven scoreless innings while striking out nine batters and allowing just three hits and fourth ranked Vanderbilt belted out 10 hits in a 10-0 win over South Carolina on Thursday night. The Commodores improve to 29-10 and 12-4 in the SEC while the loss drops the Gamecocks to 23-16 and 6-10 in league play.

The Commodores took an early 1-0 lead pushing across a run in the top of the first. Rhett Wiseman drew a one-out walk, stole second and was able to score after a throwing error by Gamecock catcher Hunter Taylor and a wild pitch.

A leadoff double from Ro Coleman followed by a pair of sacrifice hits plated the first of four runs for Vanderbilt in the sixth inning. With two outs, Zander Wiel doubled to left center and Bryan Reynolds drove him in with an RBI single. Will Toffey followed with a base hit to right and both runners were able to score on a throwing error on South Carolina second baseman Max Schrock, giving the Commodores a 5-0 advantage.

With three runs in the seventh inning, Vanderbilt increased its lead to 8-0. Coleman opened the frame with a solo home run to right field. Wiseman followed with a double and a walk to Wiel put two runners on for Reynolds who crushed a two-RBI double to left field. Toffey then drove in Reynolds with a RBI single. The Commodores added another run in the eight and two in the ninth to take a 12-0 lead.

Fulmer earned the win and improves to 7-1. Fiori suffers the loss for the Gamecocks and is now 3-1 on the season. The junior left-hander allowed just two runs, one earned, on two hits and three walks while striking out five batters in 5.1 innings of work.

GAME CHANGER
Vanderbilt’s four-run sixth inning broke open a one-run game.

KEY STAT
Carson Fulmer limited the Gamecocks to just three singles in seven innings. He struck out nine batters and walked just one.

NOTABLES
• This marked Vince Fiori’s longest career outing (5.1 innings). He also tied a career high with five strikeouts that he set on March 3 earlier this year vs. Charleston Southern. It was Fiori’s first career start as well.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chad Holbrook (Carson) Fulmer was obviously very (dominating). We had a few good passes at him, but the passes we had didn’t find a hole. Max (Schrock) took a couple good passes against him with the one in the first inning and hit one to the warning track. (Fulmer) is the real deal when he is locating his fastball the way he did tonight and it’s going to be a tough night when his breaking ball is spectacular. He’s probably the best pitcher in college baseball. We had it at a 1-0 game there in the fifth and Vince (Fiori) hadn’t been stretched out that long all year long. When his pitch count got to 80, he was about done, so we had to get him out of the game. Then, our relievers didn’t have any success at holding them at bay. We could’ve kept a little bit more respectable than it was if we don’t make that error at second base where Max and K-Mart couldn’t connect on a ball, but we’ll throw (Jack) Wynkoop tomorrow and see if he can give us the same type of start that Vince did. Maybe he can go a little bit deeper in the game and give us a chance tomorrow.”

UP NEXT
South Carolina and Vanderbilt continue with game two of the series on Friday with first pitch set for 7 p.m. The game will be televised on the SEC Network and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”