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Penn State post-game with Coach Chad Holbrook

Max Schrock, Kyle Martin and Alex Destino were expected to be three of South Carolina's best hitters this season.

After a lull lasting a few games, they finally acted like it on Wednesday night.

The trio combined for nine hits, nine RBI and six runs scored as the Gamecocks trounced Penn State, 13-3, Wednesday night at Carolina Stadium in the final nonconference tuneup before the start of the daunting 30-game SEC schedule this weekend against Kentucky.

USC pummeled seven Penn State pitchers for a season-high 15 hits, 12 of them singles, never looking back after scoring three early runs before putting the game to bed with a five-run sixth highlighted by Destino's opposite field three-run double to the left-center gap.

Schrock (3-for-3, 3 RBI, 3 runs), Martin (3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and Destino (3-for-4, 4 RBI in first start at DH since last Friday) powered the middle of USC's lineup, while Gene Cone, Jordan Gore and Hunter Taylor added two hits apiece.

Six Gamecocks had multiple hits and four scored two or more runs as USC improved to 14-3 overall by virtue of its seventh straight victory.

"It was a long time coming to have a game like that offensively," USC coach Chad Holbrook said. "Tonight guys like Max, Kyle and Alex showed they are three legitimate middle of the lineup type guys. That's what stood out to me.

"Hopefully, that puts us into a good frame of mind heading into the weekend. I wanted to leave this game tonight with our team being in a positive frame of mind heading into the weekend. They should all feel pretty good about themselves right now."

Destino's RBI single and Martin's sacrifice fly helped USC build a 3-0 lead after two innings. Schrock, who came into the game batting just .196, singled and walked in his first two at-bats before launching a three-run homer onto Williams Street beyond the right-field fence in the bottom of the fourth to expand USC's lead to 6-0.

"The whole team has been working with (Brian Buscher) to shorten up our swings," Schrock said. "I think that showed today. It was big and hopefully we can ride this momentum into the first SEC game. Myself, I've been working on simplifying my swing and finding a swing I can repeat and one I am comfortable with."

Any lingering drama evaporate din the bottom of the sixth when Destino, a very good opposite field hitter, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and drove a 2-0 pitch into the left-center gap that allowed all three baserunners to score easily.

"They (Schrock, Martin and Destino) were scuffling at the same time, which magnified some things," Holbrook said. "Tonight was what I envisioned would happen. We need those guys to play well. I've always felt we have a good offensive team. Hopefully, tonight was the start of things to come."

Gore and Taylor, a freshman catcher, followed with RBI singles as USC took a 12-2 lead into the late innings.

"Reed threw the ball very well," Holbrook said. "Preston got hit a little bit, but he threw strikes and we played some defense behind him. He has been a little tender. This was the first time he felt great. WE kept his pitch count low because we might need him this weekend."

John Parke (0.2 IP), Matthew Vogel (1.0), Tyler Johnson (0.2) and Canaan Cropper (0.1) combined to get the final eight outs.

"I feel good about the depth of our pitching staff right now," Holbrook said.

The six USC hurlers combined to limit Penn State to eight hits while striking out 10 and walking three.

NOTES:

-- Matthew Vogel fanned three of the four batters he faced in the top of the eighth inning. Tyler Johnson and Cropper combined to get the final three outs in the ninth. "It was good to see Matt Vogel throw the ball the way he threw it," Holbrook said. "He punched out the side there and had great stuff on his fastball. He was very aggressive."

-- Twenty-two different players participated in Wednesday night's game, including seldom-used reserves Weber Pike, Patrick Harrington, Jared Martin, Matt Williams and Clarke Scolamiero. "It was a full team effort," Holbrook said. "That's good to get those guys to bust their tail too every day even though they don't get to play much."

-- All three phases of the game - offense, defense and pitching - functioned properly on Wednesday night. Besides banging out 15 hits, USC did not commit an error in the field for just the third time since the conclusion of the College of Charleston series, a span of 14 games.

-- Holbrook on Schrock playing left field going forward: "He just told me he wants to play and he will play wherever it gives us the best chance to win. He is still an infielder, too. He could play second from time to time. I'm not going to shut the door on him playing third. He's a versatile player. I told him that he should play well wherever I put you."

-- Holbrook on approaching SEC competition differently: "I told the guys after the game that their gas tank has to be full come Friday night because it's an emotional weekend and so much hinges on every single pitch. It's mentally draining because you're playing a great opponent. There is a lot on the line. It's different from a midweek game. Every game is like a flip of a coin. There is equal talent on both sides. It comes down to who performs better. Our guys know that. A lot of our guys have been through these battles."

-- Cone has reached base safely in all 17 games this season.

-- The Gamecocks' streak of not allowing an earned run in 44 consecutive innings ended in the top of the fifth on Wednesday night when the Nittany Lions scored twice.

BOT 1st - Cone singled to center, Schrock walked, Martin singled to center, Caldwell walked (RBI), Destino singled to right (RBI), Gore lined to third, Stokes grounded into 4-6-3 double play. TWO RUNS, THREE HITS (USC 2-0).

BOT 2nd - Taylor singled to center, Taylor stole second, Mooney flied to left, Cone hit by pitch, Schrock singled to left, Martin hit sacrifice fly to left (RBI) and Cone advanced to third and Schrock advanced to second on throwing error (E6), Caldwell flied to left. ONE RUN, TWO HITS (USC 3-0).

BOT 4th - Taylor grounded to shirt, Mooney walked, Cone singled to left, Schrock homered to right (3 RBI), Martin flied to center, Caldwell walked, Destino singled to right off the wall and Caldwell out the plate (9-4-2). THREE RUNS, THREE HITS (USC 6-0).

TOP 5th - , White grounded to second, Haley singled to right, Helsel singled to left, Coates singled to center, Malinsky singled to right (2 RBI), Smith grounded to shortstop, Riotto struckout. TWO RUNS, 4 HITS (USC 6-2)

BOT 5th - Gore singled to center, Arendas (PH) struckout, Taylor reached first and Gore scored on fielding error (E6), Mooney grounded into 6-4-3 double play. ONE RUN, ONE HIT (USC 7-2).

BOT 6th - Cone flied to left, Schrock singled to shortstop, Schrock stole second, Martin singled to right and advanced to second on throw, Caldwell walked, Destino doubled to left-center (3 RBI), Gore singled to center (RBI), Arendas walked, Taylor singled to right (RBI), Mooney struckout swinging, Scolamiero grounded 6into fielder's choice (6-4). FIVE RUNS, FIVE HITS (USC 12-2).

TOP 7th - Helsel grounded to second, Coates grounded to pitcher, Graham walked, Graham advanced to second on passed ball, Smith singled to center (RBI), Kendall grounded to third. ONE RUN, ONE HIT (USC 12-3).

BOT 7th - Harrington lined to short, Martin homered to right (RBI), Pike grounded out to second, Steagall struckout. ONE RUN, ONE HIT (USC 13-3).

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