GAMECOCKS EARN 2-1 WIN OVER PRINCETON
From USC Sports Information
03/09/2012
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Columbia, S.C. – Senior left-hander Michael Roth carried a shutout into the ninth inning with a career-high 10 strikeouts and Kyle Martin and Evan Marzilli each had three hits apiece as second ranked South Carolina edged out Princeton 2-1 on Friday evening in non-conference baseball action at Carolina Stadium. The victory marked head coach Ray Tanner’s 700th win at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 11-1 on the year while Princeton drops to 2-3 for the season. Game two of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday. Live video broadcast is available at GamecocksOnline.com with the game also on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station 107.5 FM.
Roth was in control the entire night as he limited the Tigers to just one run on six hits with no walks. His 10 strikeouts were the most by a Gamecock pitcher since Blake Cooper tallied 10 on June 28, 2010 vs. UCLA in the CWS Championship Series. Roth is now 2-0 on the year. Freshman right-hander Evan Beal came on with two outs and a runner on second base in the ninth inning and struck out the lone batter he faced for his first career save. Princeton starter Zak Hermans was effective despite the loss. He allowed one run on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks. He is 1-1 for the season.
"That game was much of what I expected it to be,” said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner. “I knew that (Zak) Hermans was really good. I was talking to (Princeton head coach Scott Bradley) before the game and we talked his team a little bit, about their experience. We talked about his shortstop (Matt Bowman) and how good he was and he played that way. We are very fortunate to be able to hang on there at the end, we had some run-scoring opportunities, maybe to get a few more and they were able to get big outs when they needed to. That game was much as I expected it to be and Michael Roth did a tremendous job for us with the effort he gave us tonight and it was great to see (Evan) Beal come in and get that final out.
Martin put the Gamecocks on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. He drove a 2-1 pitch from Hermans over the right field wall to give the Gamecocks a one-run cushion. The home run for Martin was his first in a Gamecock uniform.
The lead increased to 2-0 in the sixth inning with a run off of Princeton reliever Kevin Link. The Gamecocks got a leadoff single by Adam Matthews followed by Martin’s third hit of the game, a base hit into right field. With one out, Connor Bright knocked a RBI base hit through the left side scoring Matthews.
Princeton made things interesting in the ninth inning with a leadoff single by Matt Bowman and after a wild pitch advanced Bowman and Sam Mulroy into scoring position, Mike Ford drove in Bowman with a RBI ground out to Bright at shortstop. With Mulroy still on second base, the Gamecocks summoned Beal, who set down pinch hitter Ryan Albert in five pitches with a strikeout to preserve the Gamecock victory.
Marzilli tallied three doubles tying a single-game record at South Carolina. It was the 25th time in school history and the first since Adrian Morales on April 2, 2011 vs. Kentucky. He finished the day 3-for-4. Martin tied his season-high with three hits as well with a RBI and a run scored. Bowman led Princeton with a 2-for-4 day at the plate.
Coach Tanner reflected on his 700th win at South Carolina.
"I'm extremely grateful to be in this position, the number I wasn't really aware of it until yesterday when somebody mentioned it,” said Coach Tanner. “I've said many times, I have the best job in the country and I'm certainly appreciative of the former players, the players now, and the coaches that have been with me. I'm enjoying a great opportunity and it's a number that is good for the whole program, it's not about me, I never made any plays, got any hits, or made any pitches.”
From USC Sports Information
03/09/2012
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Columbia, S.C. – Senior left-hander Michael Roth carried a shutout into the ninth inning with a career-high 10 strikeouts and Kyle Martin and Evan Marzilli each had three hits apiece as second ranked South Carolina edged out Princeton 2-1 on Friday evening in non-conference baseball action at Carolina Stadium. The victory marked head coach Ray Tanner’s 700th win at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 11-1 on the year while Princeton drops to 2-3 for the season. Game two of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday. Live video broadcast is available at GamecocksOnline.com with the game also on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station 107.5 FM.
Roth was in control the entire night as he limited the Tigers to just one run on six hits with no walks. His 10 strikeouts were the most by a Gamecock pitcher since Blake Cooper tallied 10 on June 28, 2010 vs. UCLA in the CWS Championship Series. Roth is now 2-0 on the year. Freshman right-hander Evan Beal came on with two outs and a runner on second base in the ninth inning and struck out the lone batter he faced for his first career save. Princeton starter Zak Hermans was effective despite the loss. He allowed one run on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks. He is 1-1 for the season.
"That game was much of what I expected it to be,” said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner. “I knew that (Zak) Hermans was really good. I was talking to (Princeton head coach Scott Bradley) before the game and we talked his team a little bit, about their experience. We talked about his shortstop (Matt Bowman) and how good he was and he played that way. We are very fortunate to be able to hang on there at the end, we had some run-scoring opportunities, maybe to get a few more and they were able to get big outs when they needed to. That game was much as I expected it to be and Michael Roth did a tremendous job for us with the effort he gave us tonight and it was great to see (Evan) Beal come in and get that final out.
Martin put the Gamecocks on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. He drove a 2-1 pitch from Hermans over the right field wall to give the Gamecocks a one-run cushion. The home run for Martin was his first in a Gamecock uniform.
The lead increased to 2-0 in the sixth inning with a run off of Princeton reliever Kevin Link. The Gamecocks got a leadoff single by Adam Matthews followed by Martin’s third hit of the game, a base hit into right field. With one out, Connor Bright knocked a RBI base hit through the left side scoring Matthews.
Princeton made things interesting in the ninth inning with a leadoff single by Matt Bowman and after a wild pitch advanced Bowman and Sam Mulroy into scoring position, Mike Ford drove in Bowman with a RBI ground out to Bright at shortstop. With Mulroy still on second base, the Gamecocks summoned Beal, who set down pinch hitter Ryan Albert in five pitches with a strikeout to preserve the Gamecock victory.
Marzilli tallied three doubles tying a single-game record at South Carolina. It was the 25th time in school history and the first since Adrian Morales on April 2, 2011 vs. Kentucky. He finished the day 3-for-4. Martin tied his season-high with three hits as well with a RBI and a run scored. Bowman led Princeton with a 2-for-4 day at the plate.
Coach Tanner reflected on his 700th win at South Carolina.
"I'm extremely grateful to be in this position, the number I wasn't really aware of it until yesterday when somebody mentioned it,” said Coach Tanner. “I've said many times, I have the best job in the country and I'm certainly appreciative of the former players, the players now, and the coaches that have been with me. I'm enjoying a great opportunity and it's a number that is good for the whole program, it's not about me, I never made any plays, got any hits, or made any pitches.”