The Gamecocks did just that, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Duke 4-2 in front of an announced Founder’s Park crowd of 5,051.
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While the Gamecocks staff said there was nothing physically wrong Webb, he was taken out of the game after hitting a batter, walking two and going 3-0 on a fourth. Included was a fifth-inning home run. UNCW was 0-for-4 with RISP … With one out and a runner on third, Johan Bride singled through the right side to drive in TJ Hopkins.
After bobbling the hit, Figueroa gunned down Bride at home. But the sophomore right-hander responded like a champion, pitching a complete game on Sunday and allowing just one run.
The Rams took their first lead of the night on a wild play that took a while to sort out.
After Swart allowed a leadoff single to outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams, Pollard replaced the Carlsbad, Calif., native with Stallings, who immediately ran into trouble. Hess and Figueroa both came in to score, but Powell was out at second for the fielder’s choice.
Sophomore right-hander Cory Gantz (4-1) suffered the loss for UNCW (41-18).
Destino led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk for the Gamecocks. He allowed one run on five hits and a walk.
The Gamecocks were only in that position thanks to Josh Reagan, who relieved Braden Webb with in the fourth after the starter sprained his foot and threw eight straight balls. Barss retired Cone, who put down a sacrifice bunt to move Mooney to second base.
“We hadn’t had a break all game, all weekend for that matter, and we finally got one”, Thompson-Williams said.
After the rough first, Wilson struck out the side in the second inning.
The win improve the Gamecocks to 43-16, while Duke’s season ends with a 33-24 mark.
South Carolina’s final run came in the 8th.
The Seahawks were first on the board, scoring their only run of the game on a first inning homer by Brian Mims. The Blue Devils loaded the bases with no fourth-inning outs before USC escaped. He set personal highs for pitches and innings pitched. The solo shot gave him 10 RBI over his last four games.
In the top of the ninth, SC got their lead-off man aboard and opted to utilize the sacrifice bunt. He left it to Meyers to fill out the pitcher’s line on the lineup card, and the call went to Johnson, whose longest outing had been four innings. He then stole second before trying to advance home when Madison Stokes bounced a single to Rhode Island second baseman Martin Figueroa.
USC established season-highs for runs, margin of victory and hits (22) with six players garnering multiple hits and four getting at least three.
“Hitting is contagious as you saw today”, said USC coach Chad Holbrook.
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The game started at 8:10 p.m. due to a weather delay caused by rain storms earlier in the afternoon.
