Gamecocks bounce Duke, stay alive in NCAA Tournament

There’s still some postseason magic left at Founders Park.

South Carolina reserve catcher Hunter Taylor doubled off the third-base bag in the ninth inning to score the go-ahead run and lead USC to a 4-2 win over Duke on Saturday afternoon.

The win keeps Carolina’s season alive, and the Gamecocks will play the loser of UNCW and Rhode Island in an elimination game Sunday at noon.

South Carolina still needs two victories Sunday and one Monday to advance to a super regional.

“We found a way to win. We didn’t play beautiful baseball by any stretch,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said. “I’ve got to try to get our guys to relax a little bit, take a deep breath and enjoy playing the game instead of playing with worry or burdens on their shoulders. If we can do that we’ve got a chance to get back in this thing.”

Taylor was making only his fourth start of the season and was in the starting lineup because catcher John Jones was late to the team breakfast Saturday morning.

His double off the bag came after a Dom Thompson-Williams single to open the ninth and a sac bunt by Madison Stokes. Taylor entered Saturday’s game hitting .188.

Taylor admitted he was surprised to arrive to the park and find out he was in the starting lineup.

“I was just happy I was getting the chance and hoping to do something good,” he said. “I believe he threw me a changeup and I got out in front of it a little bit, but I was lucky enough to get it down the line, and it hit the bag… I was hoping it got by him, and I saw the bag in the background and was like, ‘Well, that would be great too.’”

USC added an insurance run later in the inning as LT Tolbert, who finished 2-for-3, scored on a wild pitch.

For the second straight night, South Carolina jumped out to an early lead but was unable to hold it.

Jonah Bride hit an RBI infield single in the first inning to score Gene Cone, and USC added a run in the second on a Marcus Mooney single to right, but wouldn’t score again until the ninth.

Holbrook said his team seemed to be pressing at the plate for much of the game.

“I’ve got some good kids in there and they want to do well so bad. Sometimes they put a little too much pressure on themselves, and some of them are in this experience for the first time,” he said. “I thought they would handle it, to be honest with you, a little bit better, or maybe I’ve got to do a better job of helping them relax.”

South Carolina starter Braden Webb, who led the SEC in strikeouts entering the NCAA Tournament, lasted only 3-plus innings before losing his command and being pulled.

With the Gamecocks leading 2-1 with no outs in the fourth inning, Webb hit a batter, walked another and fell behind 3-0 to the next hitter before giving way to Josh Reagan.

The USC reliever finished off the at bat Webb started with a walk but got out of the bases loaded, no outs jam without allowing a run as he struck out Cris Perez, got Evan Dougherty to groundout into a fielder’s choice and Zack Kone popped out to end the inning.

“He’s a cool customer,” Holbrook said. “He has a number of different pitches that he can throw at hitters. That was a big moment. His work enabled us to win this game.”

Reagan pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed only one run on a solo homer by Duke first baseman Justin Bellinger.

Tyler Johnson pitched a scoreless final 1 1/3 innings to earn the win. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

The Blue Devils had two on and two outs in the ninth inning, but Johnson struck out Chris Proctor swinging to end the game.

South Carolina had 10 hits with Gene Cone and Tolbert leading the way with two each.

Duke starter Trent Swart allowed three runs in 8+ innings of work, throwing 118 pitches while scattering eight hits.

THREE POINTS

Star of the game: Reagan: The lefty reliever kept USC in the game until the offense finally got something going in the ninth inning, including getting the Gamecocks out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam.

Play of the game: After Thompson-Williams singled to lead off the ninth, Holbrook told Taylor he was going to sac bunt Stokes and Taylor would drive in the game-winning run. Thanks in part to a lucky bounce off the bag, Taylor did just that.

Stat of the game: 3. Braden Webb lasted only three innings, marking his second shortest outing of the season.

OBSERVATIONS

LT Tolbert provided a spark: After not playing Friday, the freshman went 2-for-3 with a walk and had four really good at-bats.

Offense will have to step up: South Carolina will likely have to win some high-scoring games to make it out of the regional as its bullpen has gotten a lot of work after Clarke Schmidt and Braden Webb combined to pitch seven innings.

Gamecocks showed toughness: Carolina’s players got only a few hours of sleep, if that, before showing up at the park needing a win to keep the season alive. It wasn’t pretty, but at this point all that matters is winning.

NEXT

What: South Carolina vs. UNCW/Rhode Island

When: Noon, Sunday

Where: Founders Park

Probable pitchers: USC – Adam Hill (Fr. RHP); TBA

Watch: ESPN3

Radio: 107.5 FM

This story was originally published June 4, 2016 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Gamecocks bounce Duke, stay alive in NCAA Tournament."