Tennessee 5 South Carolina 4 T
Columbia, S.C. - 10th ranked South Carolina held a one-run lead entering the eighth inning but Tennessee rallied with single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings on the way to a 5-4 win over the Gamecocks on Friday evening in the series opener in front of a sellout crowd of 8,242 fans at Carolina Stadium. Tennessee is now 20-10 and 6-4 in the SEC with the loss dropping Carolina to 21-9 and 3-7 in league play. Game two of the series is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday and will be nationally televised on ESPNU. It can also be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College.
After a two-run single by Christian Walker put the Gamecocks ahead 4-3 in the sixth inning, the Volunteers looked to make a rally. In the top of the eighth inning, Zach Luther led off with a double to the gap in left-center. After a walk to Drew Steckenrider, both runners were sacrificed over into scoring position. Luther would score the tying run on a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Chris Fritts. With the score deadlocked at 4-4 in the top of the ninth, Zach Osborne singled with one out and advanced to third on Will Maddox's base hit to right field. Luther was down to an 0-2 count against Gamecock reliever Matt Price and still attempted to a squeeze bunt. On the bunt, Luther popped up to Price for the second out. The Gamecock right-hander attempted to double off Osborne at third base but his throw sailed just high and off the tip of the glove of Gamecock shortstop Joey Pankake and Osborne scurried home with the go ahead run. Tennessee brought in closer Nick Blount in the bottom of the ninth inning. He worked a perfect inning of relief though a ball that Walker turned on went foul with plenty of distance and designated hitterBrison Celek flew out to the warning track in center field to end the game.
Clemson 4 Duke 1 (11 innings)
Durham, NC - Jon McGibbon led off the 11th inning with a triple and scored the first of three runs in the frame to lead Clemson to a 4-1 victory over Duke in front of 1,582 fans at Jack Coombs Field on Friday night. The Tigers, who took a 1-0 series lead, improved to 16-14 overall and 6-7 in the ACC. The Blue Devils fell to 13-18 overall and 5-8 in ACC play.
The Tigers scored a run in the first inning and held a 1-0 lead until the seventh inning, when the Blue Devils tied the score. Duke had scoring chances in the eighth and ninth innings, but Scott Firth worked out of jams both times to send the game into extra innings. McGibbon started Clemson’s three-run 11th inning with a triple to right-center, then Brad Felder and Kieboom hit run-scoring singles to give the Tigers their first extra-inning win in three tries this season.
Kevin Brady and Firth combined to allow just one run and seven hits in 11.0 innings pitched. Firth (2-0) earned the win by pitching the final 5.0 innings without giving up a run. He yielded three hits and five walks with two strikeouts. Brady tossed 6.0 strong innings, allowing just four hits, one run, and one walk with three strikeouts. Brady and Firth also teamed up to allow just one of Duke’s 13 baserunners to score in the contest.
Coastal Carolina 5 Gardner-Webb 2
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Eight Chanticleers had at least one hit and five drove in one run each to lead #28 Coastal Carolina (19-9, 3-1) to a 5-2 win at Gardner-Webb (16-15, 2-5) Friday night.
Tyler Herb, who was Coastal's Friday-night starter the first four weeks of the season, assumed the role again Friday as Josh Conway was not 100 percent. Herb returned to his early-season form as well, getting the win and improving to 5-2. The sophomore struck out seven over five innings, allowing five hits and two runs with just one walk.
Aaron Burke, who ranks second in the NCAA in ERA, pitched the final two innings to earn his fifth save. He allowed one hit, retiring six of the seven batters he faced.
Bulldog starting pitcher Matt Fraudin (1-3) was saddled with the loss, allowing eight hits and four runs (three earned) over seven complete.
Coastal Carolina and Gardner-Webb will complete the weekend set with a doubleheader Saturday. The first game is set for 1 pm with game two starting approximately 45 minutes after the completion of game one.
