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SOUTH CAROLINA ROUTS UNC 8-0
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –
Jordan Montgomery twirled a four-hit shutout and the South Carolina
offense parlayed eight hits, nine walks and five stolen bases into
eight runs, as the Gamecocks cruised to an 8-0 win over North Carolina
in Game 2 of the best-of-3 Super Regional Series at Boshamer Stadium on
Sunday afternoon.
Montgomery (6-1) was spectacular all day as he
tossed the first complete game of his career, walking one while fanning
three. Despite three fielding errors by the Gamecock infielders, only
four Tar Heel runners advanced as far as second base and none reached
third. He threw 121 pitches while quieting a record attendance crowd of
4,365.
With the win, the Gamecocks improved to 43-19 on the season while top-seeded North Carolina dropped to 56-10.
Montgomery,
a sophomore lefthander, has been outstanding in his four starts over
two seasons in the NCAA Tournament for the Garnet & Black. He is
4-0 with a 0.59 ERA, surrendering just two runs on 15 hits over 30.2
innings. He has allowed just three walks while fanning 26 batters in
posting wins over Clemson and Arkansas in 2012 and Liberty and North
Carolina in 2013.
The Gamecocks got all the runs they would need
when they sent nine batters to the plate in a five-run second inning.
Max Schrock led off the frame with a double down the first-base line
and advanced to third on TJ Costen’s ground out. After Kyle Martin
coaxed a walk on a 10-pitch at-bat, Tanner English pushed a bunt single
to first, scoring Schrock with the game’s first run. After Graham
Saiko’s flyout advanced Martin to third, English stole second. Chase
Vergason walked to load the bases. Joey Pankake delivered a key
two-out, two-run double just inside the left field line, putting the
Gamecocks on top 3-0. LB Dantzler capped the uprising with a two-run
single to right, extending the lead to five and sending Tar Heel
starter Hobbs Johnson to an early shower. Johnson (4-1) was tagged with
the loss, his first in five decisions this season.
The Gamecocks
extended their lead in the fourth without the benefit of a hit. North
Carolina right-hander Reilly Hovis walked Saiko and Vergason to open
the inning. Both runners advanced on Pankake’s chopper in front of the
plate. Dantzler was walked intentionally, then Greiner walked, forcing
in Saiko with the Gamecocks’ sixth run. Taylore Cherry replaced Hovis
and worked out of the bases loaded jam, getting an infield pop out and
a strikeout, to avoid any further damage.
South Carolina used
its speed to add a pair of runs in the fifth. English singled to deep
short with one out and promptly stole second. After Saiko walked, both
runners advanced on a double steal, giving English a career-high three
stolen bases on the day. He entered the game with just six stolen bases
on the season. Vergason hit a deep sacrifice fly to right, scoring
English and sending Saiko to third. Third baseman Colin Moran was
unable to handle Pankake’s bouncer for an error, scoring Saiko and
putting the Gamecocks comfortably ahead 8-0.
That was more than
enough for Montgomery, who was aided by a tremendous diving catch by
English in center field, robbing Skye Bolt of extra bases leading off
the ninth inning. Sunday's shutout marked the first time North
Carolina has been shut out in 96 straight games.
The rubber game
of the series will be played Monday. Game time and television network
will be determined Sunday evening. The Gamecocks are expected to send
freshman left-hander Jack Wynkoop (7-3, 2.92 ERA) to the hill. He will
be opposed by Tar Heel right-hander Benton Moss (8-1, 3.78 ERA). The
winner will advance to the College World Series, which will begin
Saturday, June 15, in Omaha, Neb.
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