Feb. 24, 2008

Final Stats

Box Score (PDF)

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Kyle Enders' two-run single in the bottom of the 11th gave No. 2 South Carolina a 7-6 win over No. 24 East Carolina Sunday afternoon in game three at Sarge Frye Field.

Trailing 6-5, James Darnell singled up the middle to lead off the 11th, then moved to second when Justin Smoak walked. After a sacrifice bunt by Adam Crisp advanced the runners to second and third, Harly Lail got a free pass from Josh Ruhlman loading the bases for Ender's game-winning hit.

Sam Dyson got the win for the Gamecocks (2-1) after working just 1/3 of an inning. Starter Craig Thomas went four innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Curtis Johnson pitched 6 2/3 innings of relief bridging the gap between Thomas and Dyson. He allowed two runs on four hits.

Ruhlman suffered the loss for the Pirates (1-2) allowing two runs (both earned) on two hits. Junior Justin Bristow went five innings allowing three runs (two earned) with six strikeouts. Freshman Sthil Sowers made his collegiate debut in a relief appearance going 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits.

Drew Schieber gave the Pirates an early 2-0 lead when he took a Craig Thomas first pitch offering over the right-center field wall plating Jamie Ray ahead of him. Ray led off the inning with a single to left-center and moved over to second on Corey Kemp's sacrifice bunt.

Ryan Wood extended the Pirates lead to 3-0 in the top of the third on a solo blast to straight away center field.

Harley Lail's two-out double to left-center pulled the Gamecocks within two, 3-1, in the bottom of the third. James Darnell reached on a error to start the frame and scored on Lail's first hit of the game.

In the top of the fourth inning the Pirates took a 4-1 lead on Schieber's sac fly to right field the plated Ray from third. Ray laced his second triple of the series to lead off the inning sending a screamer to dead center field.

Whit Merrifield connected on his second home run of the series in the bottom of the fourth to draw South Carolina within one, 4-3. Reese Havens drew a two-out walk from Bristow and trotted home on Merrifield's shot to centerfield.

Justin Smoak gave the Gamecocks a 5-4 advantage in the seventh on a two-run home run to left-center.

Wood knotted the game at five when he drove in Schieber from third on a ground out to second base in the top of the ninth. Schieber led the inning off with a double then moved to third on Harrison Eldridge's sac bunt down the third base line.

Batts gave the Pirates a 6-5 lead in the top of the 11th on an RBI single to left field that platted Schieber for the fourth time in the game. Schieber led off the inning with a single to left, his third hit of the contest, then moved over to second on Dustin Harrington's sac bunt before touching home.

GAME NOTES