Colby Holmes pitched eight shut out innings as the Gamecocks found some offense and shut out the Jaspers 7-0 in Columbia today.
Coming off a less-than-stellar start in his last outing, Holmes was virtually flawless this afternoon. He lasted eight innings and allowed only one hit. He didn’t issue any walks and tallied nine strike outs, a career high. He also hit a batter early in the game.
If it hadn’t been for a rain delay at the end of the game, he likely would’ve gone for the complete game. He obviously earned the win, improving his record to 7-1.
Patrick Sullivan came in to handle the final inning when the game resumed and gave up no hits or walks, while striking out two. Manhattan starter Taylor Sewitt went six innings and gave up four runs on four hits. He walked five and K’d three. Sewitt took the loss and dropped to 11-2 on the season.
Even though he was saddled with the loss, Sewitt should be proud of his performance today. He had a no-hitter throough five innings and proved that he definitely has quality stuff.
Both teams were hitless until the bottom of the sixth, when Joey Pankake recorded the first hit of the game with a solid double to left center. Evan Marzilli followed that with a single, and Christian Walker walked to load the bases with no outs. LB Dantzler and pinch hitter Michael Roth both recorded outs, but then the real fun started.
Adam Matthews singled to right field to bring in two runs, putting the Cocks on top. Tanner English then smacked a triple to bring in two more runs and make it 4-0.
Manahttan got their first hit in the 8th inning. Unfortunately for the Jaspers, they couldn’t capitalize and left the runner stranded.
Carolina padded their lead in their half of the 8th, when Walker led off with a solo homer to left. Danztler was then walked, and a sac bunt by Connor Bright advanced him to second. Matthews laced a single to center, bringing in another run, and then stole second. He then advanced on a sac fly from English.
Chase Vergason roped an RBI double to left center to make the score 7-0 USC. Dante Rosenberg walked, Pankake walked, and Vergason moved all the way to third. The Yardcocks couldn’t add any more runs, though, as Marzilli grounded out to end the inning.
After that, the storm came in and paused the game for almost an hour and a half. When play resumed, the Jaspers were down to their final three outs. They managed to get one more hit, but they couldn’t make anything else happen.
The Gamecocks outhit Manhattan 7-2. They also had one error. Matthews led Carolina at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Joe Rock and Nick Camasto had Manhattan’s only hits.
USC has now won 17 straight postseason games, an NCAA record, and is 9-0 in postseason games at Carolina Stadium. The Cocks have also won 20 consecutive postseason games at home.
Manhattan drops to 33-26 on the year and will face off against Coastal Carolina in an elimination game on Saturday at noon ET. In a storybook scenario, South Carolina (41-17) will take on Clemson Saturday at 4 ET. Both games will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN3.
