Recap: Gamecocks blanked by UNCG in series finale

Looking for the sweep, South Carolina hosted UNC Greensboro Sunday afternoon at Founders Park for Game 3 of their three-game opening weekend series. Adam Hill was on the mound for USC in his first start of the season. How did the Gamecocks fare?

FINAL: UNCG 1, South Carolina 0

LINESCORE

NCG (1-2) - 001 000 000 = 1-1-1

USC (2-1) – 000 000 000 = 0-4-1

WP – Matt Frisbee (1-0)

LP – Adam Hill (0-1)

SV – Andrew Wantz (1)

HR – None

RBI – None

LOB – USC 5, UNCG 2

A – 8,017

Time – 2:12

Gamecock Pitchers: Adam Hill (6.0 IP), Josh Reagan (2.0 IP)

HIGHLIGHTS

-- The early innings were dominated by the pitchers. USC’s Adam Hill worked around a muffed potential inning-ending L-5-3 double play in the top of the first and a leadoff walk in the top of the second. Meanwhile, UNCG starter Matt Frisbee set down the first six Gamecocks hitters on three groundouts and three flyouts.

-- UNCG scored an unearned run in the top of the third on a leadoff walk, stolen base, passed ball and groundout. Frisbee continued to take care of the Gamecock hitters in the bottom of the third as USC completed its first trip through the batting order without anybody reaching base.

-- Trailing 1-0, the Gamecocks had a golden opportunity to even the score in the bottom of the fourth when Danny Blair singled up the middle for USC’s first hit (and baserunner) of the game. With one out, he stole second and raced to third when the throw sailed into centerfield. However, Alex Destino fanned and John Jones fouled out to strand Blair and keep the score at 1-0.

-- The Gamecocks put another runner into scoring position in the bottom of the fifth when Madison Stokes singled to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch with two outs. Tolbert flied out deep to right for the final out, denying USC the tying run.

-- The Gamecocks had another baserunner on in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t score. When the seven-inning stretch arrived, the two teams had combined for just 3 hits.

-- Hill completed his impressive outing by setting down UNCG in order for the fourth straight inning. He retired the last 15 UNCG hitters overall after issuing a leadoff walk in the top of the third. His line: 7.0 IP, 1 hits, 1 run, 7 K, 2 BB. He faced 23 batters, two over the minimum.

-- Josh Reagan pitched the top of the eighth and issued a 2-out walk, snapping USC’s streak of 17 straight UNCG batters set down.

-- UNCG made a pitching change at the start of the bottom of the eighth and the Gamecocks couldn’t have been more thankful. Spartans starter Matt Frisbee kept USC scoreless on 3 hits for seven innings.

-- For the first time in Sunday’s game, the Gamecocks put multiple runners on base in the bottom of the eighth. But they couldn’t score. In the bottom of the bottom of the ninth, the first two USC batters fanned and flied out. A strikeout on a 3-2 pitch ended the game.

HOW THE RUNS SCORED:

UNCG 3rd - Embler walked, Trejo struck out swinging, Embler stole second, Embler advanced to third on passed ball, Spitznagel grounded out to first unassisted (RBI), Shelton grounded out to short. 1 RUN, 0 HITS (UNCG 1-0).