#4 Tigers Rally Late to Top #4 Gamecocks 10-5 Sunday

March 6, 2011

Clemson, SC –

The #4 Clemson Tigers scored six runs in the eighth inning for a come-from-behind 10-5 win over #4 South Carolina in front of 6,320 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers, who evened the series 1-1, improved to 7-2 overall. The Gamecocks, who fell to 8-1 overall, saw their 14-game winning streak dating back to 2010 snapped.

South Carolina pitchers worked out of several jams before the Gamecocks took a 5-3 lead with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. After Clemson scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, Clemson erupted for six runs on six hits in the eighth inning to pull out the five-run victory.

Sophomore lefthander Joseph Moorefield (1-0) earned his first career win by tossing 2.0 hitless and scoreless innings with two strikeouts to close out the game. Starter Kevin Brady pitched 4.0 innings, allowing three hits, one run, and no walks with four strikeouts, but he left the game prematurely due to an arm injury. His status will be re-evaluated during the upcoming week.

Matt Price (0-1), the fifth of six Gamecock pitchers, suffered the loss, as he yielded four hits, six runs, and two walks in 0.2 innings pitched.

The Gamecocks took the game’s first lead in the first inning. With two outs, Jackie Bradley, Jr. lined a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field for a solo homer, his third long ball of the season.

The Tigers put together a two-out rally to take the lead in the third inning. Chris Epps and Brad Miller both hit two-out singles through the right side, then Jeff Schaus laced a double over the first-base bag to score Epps and Miller.

Clemson used another two-out rally in the sixth inning to double its lead. Phil Pohl hit a two-out single up the middle and went to third base on Jason Stolz’s double over the third-base bag. After Epps walked, Miller drew another walk to score Pohl.

In the seventh inning, Walker led off with a solo homer to center, his fourth long ball of the season. Brady Thomas reached on a wild pitch as he struck out, then Adrian Morales walked. Peter Mooney’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base and pinch-hitter Michael Roth grounded out to first to plate Thomas, tying the score 3-3. After Scott Wingo walked, the Gamecocks took the lead on a wild pitch that allowed Morales to score, then Evan Marzilli hit a two-out single to right-center to plate Wingo.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, John Hinson’s groundout, Spencer Kieboom lined a single to left field to score Shaffer.

In the eighth inning, Stolz led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on Epps’ sacrifice bunt. Miller followed with a single through the left side to move Stolz to third, then Stolz scored on the play when the ball got away from Mooney. Schaus gave Clemson the lead when he lined a double to right-center to score Miller. Two batters later, Hinson was intentionally walked with two outs, then Kieboom drew a walk to load the bases. Lamb came through with a single to right-center to score Schaus and Hinson, then Kieboom scored on an error by right-fielder Adam Matthews on the play. Pinch-hitter Jon McGibbon gave Clemson a five-run lead when he laced a double to left-center to score Lamb.

Clemson, who outhit South Carolina 15-5, put 24 batters on base thanks in part to eight walks, while Tiger pitchers only allowed five Gamecock hits and nine baserunners in the game.

Stolz had a game-high three hits, while Schaus went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Every Tiger starter scored at least one run and nine of the 10 Tigers in the lineup had at least one hit.

Walker had two of the Gamecocks’ five hits and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Clemson and South Carolina will play for the final time during the 2011 regular season on Tuesday at 7:00 PM at Fluor Field in Greenville, SC. The game will be televised live by WMYA (My40) and will be available via webcast at ESPN3.com.