Baseball Earns 2-1 Win Over Presbyterian
Joey Pankake with first career home run in the victory
From USC Sports information
Feb. 28, 2012
Box Score | Quotes
Columbia, S.C. -
Joey Pankake hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie and four Gamecock pitchers combined to allow just one run on five hits as second ranked South Carolina defeated Presbyterian 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Carolina Stadium. South Carolina is now 7-0 on the year while the loss drops Presbyterian to 0-8 for the season.
Junior left-hander Nolan Belcher earned his first win since May 11, 2010 with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just one hit and struck out three batters. After junior right-hander Ethan Carter hurled 2.1 scoreless innings it would be junior left-hander Tyler Webb that would close the game out as he retired the final batter of the game on a fly out to earn his first save of the season. Presbyterian starter Beau Dees had a quality outing despite the loss. He is now 0-1 on the year. Dees went 7.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Presbyterian broke ahead first with a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Gabe Grammer led off with a base hit and Andrew Williams was hit by a pitch to open the frame. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, Tony Micklon blooped a single into right field scoring Grammer. Montgomery escaped further damage though as he induced Kenny Bryant into a 4-6-3 double play to keep PC from putting multiple runs across the plate.
Carolina tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning as TJ Costen led off with a triple to the gap in right-center and scored on Evan Marzilli's RBI ground out. Pankake then delivered for the Gamecocks in the bottom of the fourth as he belted a 2-1 pitch from Dees over the left-centerfield wall. The homer was Pankake's first of the season and also his first career RBI in a Gamecock uniform.
Freshman left-hander Jordan Montgomery made his first career start and he was effective with four quality innings allowing one run on four hits with a strikeout and no walks allowed.
The Gamecocks will be back in action this weekend as college baseball's premier rivalry takes center stage. South Carolina and Clemson will meet in a three-game series beginning on Friday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday's contest is in Columbia at Carolina Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday's series finale at Doug Kingmore Stadium in Clemson will begin at 2 p.m. also and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com. All three games can also be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College.
Joey Pankake with first career home run in the victory
From USC Sports information
Feb. 28, 2012
Box Score | Quotes
Columbia, S.C. -
Joey Pankake hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie and four Gamecock pitchers combined to allow just one run on five hits as second ranked South Carolina defeated Presbyterian 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Carolina Stadium. South Carolina is now 7-0 on the year while the loss drops Presbyterian to 0-8 for the season.
Junior left-hander Nolan Belcher earned his first win since May 11, 2010 with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just one hit and struck out three batters. After junior right-hander Ethan Carter hurled 2.1 scoreless innings it would be junior left-hander Tyler Webb that would close the game out as he retired the final batter of the game on a fly out to earn his first save of the season. Presbyterian starter Beau Dees had a quality outing despite the loss. He is now 0-1 on the year. Dees went 7.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Presbyterian broke ahead first with a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Gabe Grammer led off with a base hit and Andrew Williams was hit by a pitch to open the frame. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, Tony Micklon blooped a single into right field scoring Grammer. Montgomery escaped further damage though as he induced Kenny Bryant into a 4-6-3 double play to keep PC from putting multiple runs across the plate.
Carolina tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning as TJ Costen led off with a triple to the gap in right-center and scored on Evan Marzilli's RBI ground out. Pankake then delivered for the Gamecocks in the bottom of the fourth as he belted a 2-1 pitch from Dees over the left-centerfield wall. The homer was Pankake's first of the season and also his first career RBI in a Gamecock uniform.
Freshman left-hander Jordan Montgomery made his first career start and he was effective with four quality innings allowing one run on four hits with a strikeout and no walks allowed.
The Gamecocks will be back in action this weekend as college baseball's premier rivalry takes center stage. South Carolina and Clemson will meet in a three-game series beginning on Friday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday's contest is in Columbia at Carolina Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday's series finale at Doug Kingmore Stadium in Clemson will begin at 2 p.m. also and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com. All three games can also be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College.