This is what winning anyway looks like.
Phew. Trust the Yardcocks to make things interesting in the postseason.
Today’s game was thrilling, stressful, frustrating, and about 74 other emotions that people may have felt individually. The biggest feeling was elation, though, as LB Dantzler smacked a walk off RBI single in the bottom of the 12th to give South Carolina a 5-4 victory over Clemson.
Much like yesterday, USC got off to a bit of a slow start. They didn’t get on the board until the fourth inning, when Adam Matthews went yard to give Carolina a 2-0 lead. It took Clemson until the seventh inning to put up some runs, but when they did, they took a 3-2 lead.
The Tigers had an opportunity much earlier in the game, when USC starter Michael Roth was having a little trouble getting settled. CU had the bases loaded with no outs in the second inning, but thanks to a double play an a rare interference call, they couldn’t capitalize.
Anyway, Clemson increased their lead to 4-2 in the eighth when Brad Felder tattooed a ball over the right field wall. Before rounding the bases, he made sure to flip his bat, something that’s obviously very classy and shows good sportsmanship.
Christian Walker (and USC fans everywhere), were rubbed the wrong way by that, and it likely gave them some fuel for what happened next.
In the bottom of the eighth, Evan Marzilli laced a lead off single into right. Walker followed that with a double down the line into left, which brought Marzilli home. The Gamecocks couldn’t do anything else in the inning, but the momentum had definitely shifted in their favor.
Then things got really exciting. In the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Kyle Martin got things started with a single. Chase Vergason was walked, and then Dante Rosenberg (who was an absolute stud behind the plate, and not too shabby batting, either) laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners. Joey Pankake roped a RBI single into center, which tied the game at 4-4 and sent the crowd at Carolina Stadium into a state of chaos. Vergason tried to get home and was thrown out, and Marzilli had a fly out to end the inning.
Because this game had such a storybook set up as it was, it seemed only fitting that extra innings were required. The 10th and 11th innings were relatively quiet for both teams, although Matthews was thisclose to going yard again and winning the game in the 10th. The 12th was uninteresting on the Tigers’ end, but the same couldn’t be said the for the Gamecocks.
Pankake led off with a single, and Marzilli followed with a single of his own. Pankake got to third, putting runners at the corners with no outs. Walker popped out and then it was Dantzler’s turn to bat. As the crowd chanted and literally buzzed with energy, Dantzler knocked a base hit to center, bringing Pankake across the plate and giving Carolina a dramatic (and AWESOME) walk off win.
After the game, players and coaches on both sides spoke to the drama of the game, though USC was obviously happier with the way things turned out. Following in the footsteps of the “battle” and “win anyway” mantras, Pankake said the team grinded and fought, and obviously they were rewarded with a victory.
Evan Beal, who threw 1 1/3 innings at the end of the game, earned the win and improves to 4-4 on the season. He was perfect, allowing no hits, walks, or runs, and striking out two. Starter Michael Roth lasted 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits. He struggled a bit early on, and issued four walks while recording only one K. Matt Price and Tyler Webb also saw action.
Clemson starter Daniel Gossett went seven innings and surrendered two runs on four hits. He walked three batters and struck out an impressive eight. It was reliever Kevin Brady who took the loss, though. He pitched three innings in which he allowed one run on three hits. He didn’t walk anybody and K’d three batters. His record drops to 1-3.
The Cocks had contributions from both seasoned pplayers and the news guys, and outhit the Tigers 12-8. They also had two errors, while CU didn’t have any. Marzilli led the Gamecocks at the plate, going 3-for-6. Felder went 3-for-5 to lead Clemson.
With the win, South Carolina improves to 42-17 on the year, while the Tigers fall to 34-27. USC advances to the winner’s bracket final, where they’ll take on whoever wins the elimination game between Clemson and Coastal tomorrow. The first game begins at noon ET, the second at 4 ET. Both will be shown on ESPNU/ESPN3.
The victory also keeps a couple of streaks alive. The Yardcocks now have 18 straight postseason wins, an NCAA record. They’re also now 10-0 all-time at Carolina Stadium in the postseason and have won 21 consecutive postseason games at home.
