March 3, 2015

Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A six-run seventh inning lifted fifth ranked South Carolina to a 10-4 victory over Charleston Southern on Tuesday night at Carolina Stadium. The Gamecocks improve to 8-3 on the year while the loss drops the Buccaneers to 5-4.

Trailing 4-3, the Gamecocks tallied six runs in the seventh to take a 9-4 lead. DC Arendas was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and quickly scored after a sacrifice bunt from Logan Koch and a RBI single off the bat of Marcus Mooney. Gene Cone followed with a bunt for a base hit and both runners then advanced on a wild pitch. Elliott Caldwell drew a walk, loading the bases for Kyle Martin, who was hit by a pitch to score Mooney. With the bases still loaded, Alex Destino crushed a 2-1 pitch to right field for his first career grand slam and his team-leading third homer of the year to give the Gamecocks a five-run cushion.

South Carolina added another run in the eighth on a RBI single from Martin that scored Cone.

Sophomore left-hander John Parke earned the win in relief, working 1.1 scoreless innings allowing no hits and two walks while striking out one batter. Left-hander Vince Fiori picked up his first career save with five strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings of work.

Charleston Southern got on the board early with a pair of runs in the first inning. A solo home run from Andrew Widell and a RBI double off the bat of Robbie Streett, secured the 2-0 lead for the Buccaneers.

The Gamecocks plated three runs in the third inning to go ahead 3-2. Cone and Caldwell opened the frame with back-to-back singles and Kyle Martin followed with a base hit to right field that brought home Cone. Max Schrock then ripped a single up the middle to score both Caldwell and Martin. The Buccaneers tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth and then reclaimed the lead, pushing across another run in the sixth.

GAME CHANGER

Alex Destino’s grand slam in the seventh inning broke open a one-run game, giving the Gamecocks a 9-4 lead.

KEY STAT Kyle Martin and Max Schrock combined to finish 5-for-8 with 5 RBI.

NOTABLES

• Gene Cone has hit safely in all 11 games this year and has a 12-game hitting streak dating back to last season.
• Tyler Haswell made his first career start and worked a career-high 3.1 innings with a career-high five strikeouts.
• Alex Destino tallied a career-high four RBI.
• Kyle Martin tallied a season-high three RBI.
• Gene Cone tied his career-high of three hits in a game.
• John Parke earned his first career win.
• Vince Fiori tallied a career-high five strikeouts and his first career save.
• Canaan Cropper made his first career appearance.

QUOTABLE South Carolina Head Coach Chad Holbrook

“It was nice to see us offensively hit a few balls on the screws and look a little bit more offensive than we have looked the last several games. I think this is one of the first games all year that we have had three players with multiple hit games in the same game. We put some hits together today. Gene (Cone) had some really good at-bats and has been having good at-bats. We will be a pretty good offensive team if Kyle Martin and Max Schrock swing the bat. I have said that from the get-go and that is what I believe and feel. Those guys swung the bat today and it was good to see Max get going a little bit and then (Alex) Destino gave us a little bit of a cushion with the big homerun. From a pitching standpoint, a couple guys did some good things. I thought Fiori was about as sharp as he has been in a long time. He threw strikes in all his pitches and had a great line. We were not perfect by any stretch, we are still trying figure out who we are.”

UP NEXT

The Gamecocks host High Point on Wednesday at Carolina Stadium with first pitch slated to 4 p.m. The game can be seen on SEC Network + and can also be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”