University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
South Carolina
Bulldogs Fall to Second Ranked Gamecocks - UNC Asheville Bulldogs Official Athletics Site
01.01.1970 | Baseball
March 20, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Brett Robinson went 3-for-3 while Steve Burnich and Kyle Smith both went 2-for-4 but its was not enough as No. 2 ranked South Carolina pulled out a 9-2 victory over UNC Asheville Tuesday night.
The Gamecocks (18-3) scored seven runs in the first three innings to make a winner out of Alex Farotto (1-0) who came in to relive starter Sean Wideberg in the third inning. Farotto pitched 2.1 giving up just one hit and striking out five. Six South Carolina pitchers combined to strike out 16 Bulldog hitters.
Justin Smoak hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run first inning for the Gamecocks. USC added two in the second as it loaded the bases with no one out. Chris Nigro (0-2) got Harley Lail to hit into a double-play allowing one run to score. James Darnell doubled home Travis Jones to make the score 5-1. The Gamecocks added two more in the third. John Williard had a one out home run to right centerfield and Lail singled home Andrew Crip to make it 7-1.
Asheville (6-17) scored in the top of the second inning. Rob Vernon single to move his hitting streak to six-straight games. Smith singled and Robinson walked to load the bases with one out. After a strikeout, Matt Henson drew an RBI walk, one of five base on balls surrendered by Wideberg. Despite the RBI, Henson did not get a hit on Tuesday ending his season long hit streak at seven games.
USC added two more runs in the fifth as Lail hit a two-run home run with Crisp aboard to make the score 9-1. Asheville closed out the scoring with a run in the sixth. Smith had a one out double, moved to third on a base hit by Robinson, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Camron Duckworth.
Andrew Alexander came out of the Asheville bull pen to throw 5.1 innings giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out two batters.
The Bulldogs will travel to Hickory on Wednesday to face Appalachian State at L.P. Frans Stadium. Asheville will send Josh Lett to the mound to face Jonathan Reeder for ASU. The 5 p.m. game can be heard live on uncabulldogs.com beginning at 4:50 p.m.
