South Carolina Tops Clemson, 2-1

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Clemson, SC -- Drew Meyer hit a home run and Lee Gronkiewicz pitched 2

2/3 innings of one-hit relief to lead South Carolina to a 2-1

rain-delayed victory over Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The win

improved South Carolina to 32-13 for the year, while Clemson fell to

29-16. South Carolina won the season series 3-1.

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie through the first

three innings. Clemson starter Steve Reba allowed just one hit

through the first three frames, while South Carolina starter Chris

Spigner allowed just two hits.

South Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, the

first run allowed by Reba in 14 innings. Drew Meyer homered to right

center to open the inning, his third career home run at Kingsmore

Stadium in three games. Reba later got out of the inning by inducing

Tim Whittaker to ground into a double play.

Clemson tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth,

but could have scored more. Kyle Frank opened the inning with a

walk and was followed by Jeff Baker, who singled to center. It was

the eighth hit in four games against the Gamcocks by Baker, who has

missed some recent games due to injury.

Michael Johnson came to the plate and grounded back to

Spigner, but the pitcher threw wide of third base, allowing Frank to

score. Johnson advanced to second and Baker to third. South

Carolina brought in Blake Taylor with the runners on second and third

and no out. But, the South Carolina pitcher set the Tigers down on

two strikeouts and a pop up.

South Carolina took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth. With

one out, Michael Floyd singled to left. He then stole second and

remained at that base as Tripp Kelly walked. Chris Plummer then

attempted to move the runners up on a sacrifice, but Reba's throw to

first was errant, allowing Floyd to score. Reba then settled down to

get out of the inning.

Clemson got a single in the bottom of the fifth from leadoff

hitter Casey Stone, but could not advance him past second.

Prior to the top of the sixth, at 8:36 PM, rain and

lightening became too prevalent and the umpires called for the tarp,

causing a two-hour and one-minute delay.

Both teams failed to score after the delay. South Carolina

had outstanding pitching from David Marchbanks and Lee Gronkiewicz.

The latter pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and struck out four, he

allowed just one hit. He came on in the seventh with Clemson runners

on second and third and just one out. But, he retired the Tigers,

then gave up just one hit in the final two innings.

Clemson went to Patrick Hogan after the rain delay. He was

outstanding, allowing just two hits in four innings. He struck out

six and walked just one.

Blake Taylor got the win for South Carolina to improve to 3-2

for the season, while Clemson ace Steve Reba took the loss to drop to

8-2.

Each team had five hits and each team had one player with 40

percent of the hits. Drew Meyer had two of South Carolina's five

hits, while Casey Stone had two of Clemson's four hits. Clemson's

only extra base hit was a double by Chad Coder.

After the game at homeplate, MVP awards for the four-game

Clemson vs. South Carolina series were presented in the names of each

school's longtime sports information directors. South Carolina's

MVP, the winner of the Tom Price Award, was Drew Meyer. Clemson's

MVP, the winner of the Bob Bradley Award, was Jeff Baker.

Clemson returns to action at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this

weekend with three games against ACC rival North Carolina.

South Carolina 2 (32-13)


Player	               AB	R	H	BI


Marcus McBeth cf	4	0	0	0


Drew Meyer ss	        4	1	2	1


Garris Gonce lf	        4	0	0	0


Brennan Dees dh	        3	0	0	0


Tim Whittaker c	        3	0	0	0


Bryon Jeffcoat 2b	4	0	0	0


Michael Floyd rf	4	1	3	0


Tripp Kelly 1b	        2	0	0	0


Chris Plummer 3b	2	0	0	0


Chris Spigner p	        0	0	0	0


 Blake Taylor p	        0	0	0	0


 David Marchbanks p	0	0	0	0


 Lee Gronkiewicz p	0	0	0	0


Totals......   	       30	2	5	1


Clemson University 1 (29-16)


Player	               AB	R	H	BI


Casey Stone lf	        4	0	2	0


Kyle Frank rf	        3	1	1	0


Jeff Baker 3b	        4	0	1	0


Michael Johnson 1b	4	0	0	0


Khalil Greene ss	4	0	0	0


Russell Triplett dh	3	0	0	0


Ryan Riley 2b	        3	0	0	0


Steve Pyzik c	        2	0	0	0


 Jarrod Schmidt ph	1	0	0	0


Chad Coder cf	        3	0	1	0


Steve Reba p	        0	0	0	0


 Patrick Hogan p	0	0	0	0


Totals......   	       31	1	5	0


Score by Innings                    R  H  E


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South Carolina...... 000 110 000 -  2  5  2


Clemson University.. 000 100 000 -  1  5  1


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E - Whittaker(1); Spigner(1); REBA(1). DP - S. Carolina 1; Clemson 1. LOB - S.


Carolina 5; Clemson 7. 2B - CODER(8). HR - Meyer(4). SH - Plummer(7);


RILEY(6);


PYZIK(8). SB - Meyer(17); Floyd 3(7); FRANK(1). 


South Carolina      	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	WP	BK	HP	IBB	AB	BF	FO	GO


Chris Spigner 	        3.0	3	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	12	13	3	4


Blake Taylor  W,3-2	1.2	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	5	5	1	1


David Marchbanks 	1.2	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	5	8	3	1


Lee Gronkiewicz  S,11	2.2	1	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	9	9	1	3


Clemson University  	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	WP	BK	HP	IBB	AB	BF	FO	GO


Steve Reba  L,8-2	5.0	3	2	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	16	19	5	7


Patrick Hogan 	        4.0	2	0	0	1	6	0	0	0	0	14	15	5	1


Strikeouts - Gonce; Dees 3; Jeffcoat; Floyd; Kelly; JOHNSON; GREENE 2;


TRIPLETT;


RILEY; PYZIK; SCHMIDT; CODER 2. Walks - Dees; Whittaker; Kelly; FRANK;


TRIPLETT. 


Umpires - Home:Jeff Cox  1st:Eddie Loggins  3rd:Larry Short  


Start: 7:17 PM   Time: 2:26   Attendance: 5665


Game notes:


Rain Delay of 2:01 after the fifth inning.                                 


Spigner faced 3 batters in the 4th.

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