USC powers to win after quick start

Gamecocks score five runs in first inning and cruise past Wofford

By From Staff Reports

SPARTANBURG — South Carolina scored eight runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 10-5 victory against Wofford on Wednesday for its third win in a row.

The Gamecocks scored five runs in the top of the first inning against Wofford starter Jordan Mickleberry and cruised as all nine USC starters tallied at least one hit.

Whit Merrifield and DeAngelo Mack each tied season-highs with three hits apiece for South Carolina (34-15). Reese Havens, Justin Smoak and Phil Disher had two hits apiece.

“We’ve been doing a good job in the last couple of games of getting off to a good start,” Merrifield said. “We like to put pressure on.”

Smoak’s two hits moved him into a tie for eighth on USC’s all-time hits list.

USC sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning to break the game open. Havens led off with a single, then Merrifield singled and Smoak walked to load the bases with no outs.

James Darnell followed with a two-RBI single, then Harley Lail added a RBI fielder’s choice. Mack then hit a two-out two run single as the Gamecocks raced out to a five run-lead.

“We were able to get those runs early and I thought that was a big key for us,” USC coach Ray Tanner said. “We had a couple of seeing-eye (singles) and we hit a couple of balls hard. We had a few breaks.”

USC’s Sam Dyson (6-0) pitched five-plus innings and allowed one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked two.

South Carolina plays at Arkansas on Friday at 7:35 p.m. in the opener of a three-game SEC series.

Mickleberry lasted only three innings and allowed eight runs on 11 hits to suffer the loss for Wofford (21-29). Michael Gilmartin had three hits, a run and RBI to lead the Terriers at the plate.