COLUMBIA, S.C.?South Carolina used a four run fourth and a five run fifth to defeat UNC Asheville 12-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
Gamecock (3-1) pitching held the Bulldogs (2-3) to just four hits in the game as Asheville's offense was quite for the second straight day. Reed Kreiser had a single and a double. Kreiser went 2-for-3 as he is hitting .471 over the first five games of the season while the rest of the team is hitting just .196. Danny Baatz and Brett Robinson had the other two Bulldog hits.
Taylor Wohlwend (0-1) made his first collegiate start for the Bulldogs going 4.2 innings giving up seven runs on five hits. He walked five and struck out four Gamecocks.
Nick Godwin (1-0) went six shutout innings allowing just two hits while not walking a batter for South Carolina. Four USC pitchers combined for nine strike outs and just three walks while five Asheville pitchers combined for five strike outs and 10 walks.
South Carolina opened the scoring on a two-run home run by Reese Havens in the third inning. The Gamecocks scored four times in the fourth. Havens was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for his third RBI of the game. After a sacrifice fly, James Darnell had a two-RBI double. In the fifth, after two were out, a single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Whit Merrifield walked to force in a run. Darnell then singled to centerfield, the throw to the plate was wild allowing all three runs to score and Darnell to move to third base. Justin Smoak singled to plate Darnell and make the score 11-0.
USC added its final run in the seventh. Back-to-back walks and a wild pitch put runners at second and third with no one out. Merrifield flied into a double play but the runner from third scored the final run of the game.
Asheville threatened in the ninth. Baatz and Robinson singled in front of a two out walk to Kevin Mattison to load the bases. Alex Farotto struck out the side to leave the bases loaded.
Asheville will open up the home portion of its schedule as it welcomes Akron to Greenwood Field on Friday to begin a three game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 2 p.m. The game can be heard online at uncabulldogs.com.
