April 18, 2015

Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina rallied from a two-run deficit with a three-run sixth inning for a 3-2 victory over fourth ranked Vanderbilt to clinch the three-game series on Saturday at Carolina Stadium. The Gamecocks improve to 25-16 and 8-10 in the SEC while the loss drops the Commodores to 29-12 and 12-6 in league play.

Trailing 2-0, the Gamecocks scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead over the Commodores. Max Schrock crushed a 2-2 pitch to deep right-center for a triple, driving in DC Arendas who was hit by a pitch to open the frame. Kyle Martin followed with a walk to put runners on the corners. A single up the middle off the bat of Alex Destino brought home Schrock to tie the game. With two outs and runners on first and second, Logan Koch knocked the first pitch he saw into left field for a base hit to score Martin and give the Gamecocks a one-run lead.

Senior right-hander Cody Mincey earned the win relief and improves to 2-2 on the year. He worked three scoreless innings while walking three batters and striking out three. Sophomore right-hander Taylor Widener tallied his ninth save of the season after 2.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit and striking out four batters. Vanderbilt starter John Kilichowski suffered the loss and is now 2-2 on the year. He allowed three runs on four hits in five-plus innings with two walks.

Jeren Kendall scored two runs for Vanderbilt in the first four innings. In the bottom of the second he hit a solo homerun over the right field wall then followed with a leadoff double in the fourth and scored on a wild pitch.

GAME CHANGER
Max Schrock’s RBI triple sparked a three-run sixth inning.

KEY STAT
Mincey and Widener did not allow a hit in 5.2 scoreless innings of relief.

NOTABLES
• Logan Koch’s RBI in the bottom of the sixth is his first in league play this season.
• Max Schrock hit his second triple of the season.
• Alex Destino went 2-for-4 in his first multi-hit game against an SEC opponent.
• This is South Carolina’s second consecutive series win over Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks lead the overall series 59-22.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chad Holbrook
It was obviously an exciting day for us and I don’t know if I can put into words what this means for our team and the morale in our locker room. It’s been a tough stretch and our guys didn’t give up and after Thursday night, it didn’t look so hot, but boy, did they respond the right way and played with some energy and emotion in these last 18 innings. On top of that, we beat a great team. (Vanderbilt) has a chance to win the national championship again and we battled them pitch for pitch, at-bat for at-bat and we found a way to win a big time series here at home. Our fans helped us in a big time way. We had a great home field advantage; it was loud in there and that makes a difference. It makes a difference to our players and it has an impact on the opponent, I feel. It was just fun to be out there and involved in that game today and yesterday. Hopefully, we can capitalize on some of this momentum, continue to play this type of baseball and finish the season the right way. As far as the game is concerned, Clarke (Schmidt) scattered seven hits in three innings, but we got out of a bases loaded jam with that fly ball to right field. Cody (Mincey) came in and his line was really good, other than the three walks, he kept them at bay and then, Taylor (Widener) was spectacular in his two and two-thirds. I think Max’s big hit, the triple there, kind of got us going. It was just a great two days for us, especially after what happened and it was just really, really neat. When you’re coaching at South Carolina and things aren’t going so well, it’s really, really neat when an opponent like Vanderbilt comes in here and you feel like the city and the fans are behind you. Our players felt that, I felt it, and we’re very appreciative.”

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks travel to Greenville, S.C. for non-conference action with Furman at Fluor Field on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”