Consecutive 1-run games for the Gamecocks? Get used to it
South Carolina was struggling to protect a precious one-run lead as Charlotte had the tying run at third base with less than two outs in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday afternoon.
But hard-throwing closer Tyler Johnson slammed the door with a strikeout and a forceout on a routine grounder to second to give the Gamecocks a slender 5-4 victory at Founders Park.
Chad Holbrook was pleased with how the Gamecocks handled the ninth inning as the Gamecocks must learn to play in close games with the Clemson showdown series looming in 10 days and the challenging SEC schedule ahead in less than a month, when one and two runs games will be the norm.
“We made it a little bit harder than we wanted to or needed to because of a little bit lack of execution offensively,” Holbrook said. “We’re lucky to get out of here with a win, but we’ll take it. All in all, I was tickled for our pitchers. It was good to see Tyler bow his neck there with the game on the line.””
Tuesday’s win marked the second straight one-run game involving the Gamecocks and the third game in four decided by four runs or less. Sunday’s final score in the series finale against UNC Greensboro was 1-0.
Expect more down-to-wire games like these with the outcome in doubt until the final out as the season progresses into March and April.
“It’s good to be in these kind of games because we’re going to be in a lot of them all year long,” Holbrook said. “It was good we found a way to win. For that, I’m happy. It was a good win for us against a good team. But we have to play better and I can certainly make a few better decisions along the way as well. Now we move on to another challenge on Thursday (vs. Kansas State).
“Our schedule is full of big time challenges. We’re going to have some pretty darn good RPI wins the rest of the way. We’ll look back on this one and say, ‘That was a pretty good quality win. I like to see how we respond in situations like this because we’re going to be in a lot of them.
The Gamecocks had just four extra base hits in the three-game UNCG series before collecting five on Tuesday, including homers by Alex Destino and Jacob Olson and three doubles.
“It was nice to get some extra base hits today,” Holbrook said. “The park was playing a little bit small and the ball was carrying a bit. It was good to see Destino with the big swing of the bat. That ultimately was the difference in the game.”
Destino’s 2-run blast over the right field fence in the bottom of the fifth snapped a 3-3 tie, and was the 17th homer of his career.
The junior from Weaverville picked up his career 100th RBI on the same swing of the bat.
How well is Olson swinging the bat after four games (.385, 5-13, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .692 slugging percentage)? When he came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth with Matt Williams standing on second after a leadoff double and the Gamecocks nursing a 5-3 lead, Holbrook let him swing away rather than bunt Williams over to third.
Olson popped up to second, but the message was delivered loud and clear from Holbrook.
After Olson failed to advance the runner, Holbrook naturally had second thoughts.
“Because he was swinging it so well, I chose not to bunt him there in the bottom of the eighth,” Holbrook said. “I wish I had that one back. Every run is so crucial here, especially with our pitching staff. I have to learn from that one.”
Holbrook had a well-defined strategy going into the game. Secure the lead by the seventh inning before turning the game over to Josh Reagan and Johnson, who reached the upper 90's in velocity during his first appearance of the 2017 season.
The Gamecocks bullpen hurled 6.2 innings Tuesday after freshman starter Sawyer Bridges was lifted with one out in the top of the third after allowing four hits and three runs with three strikeouts.
“The pitching staff is the strength of our team and they kept us in the game,” Holbrook said.
NOTES:
-- Sophomore OF T.J. Hopkins was lifted from Tuesday’s game after he tweaked a quad muscle or hip flexor, Holbrook said. “He has been nursing for the last month a pulled quad or hip flexor or something along those lines,” Holbrook said. “I didn’t like the way he was moving out there today. It tightened up. We had to get him off his feet and see if that thing clams down. It has been bothering him for a while.”
-- Danny Blair has hit safely in all four games this season for the Gamecocks and is now hitting .500 (7-14) with two stolen bases.
-- NEXT GAME: Gamecocks host Kansas State Thursday at 4 p.m. at Founders Park. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network.
