USC-Clemson Baseball Blog - Wed. 4/16
posted by Scott Hood, Wednesday, April 16, 2008
9:35 - Darnell rockets a ball down the 3B line for a double. He has 2 doubles and a SF tonight. Good night for the California Kid. Disher flies deep to CF. Darnell to 3rd with 1 out. Darnell stranded at third. WE GO TO BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 6-0.
9:30 - Thomas K's Paulsen. WE GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC AHEAD 6-0.
9:25 - P-4 for the first out in B8. That's four putouts for Wingo tonight to go along with a seaosn-high 7 assists. That's the most assists by a USC player thisseason. F-7 for 2nd out. Here comes Tanner. That will be it for Godwin. What a performance. 7.2 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs so far. Craig Thomas is the new pitcher for USC. Four outs to the sweep.
9:20 - USC has loaded the bases with 2 outs. Smoak L-4. We go to the B8 with USC leading 6-0.
9:15 - Hopper walks with 1 out in T8, becoming the first USC base runner since thr fourth inning. Some CU fans have left the ballpark. They have had little to cheer about tonight. This might be the deadest crowd I've ever seen at a USC-Clemson baseball game. Single by Havens with 2 outs. He has three hits tonight. Havens came in batting .394 and he's 3-for-5 tonight.
9:10 - Leadoff single in the 7th for CU but Godwin retired the next 3 batters to preserve the shutout. We go to the T8 with USC leading 6-0. 5 of the runs scored in the fourth inning. Godwin has done a fabulous job making those runs stand up. If USC holds on, it will mark the first season sweep of 4+ games over Clemson since 1985.
9:05 - Darnell leads off the T7. F-8. Disher up. 8 USC hitters in a row retired. F-7. 9 in a row. F-8 by Lail. Another 1-2-3 inning for USC. It's seventh-inning stretch time. USC leads 6-0.
9:00 - Godwin blows a fastball past Paulsen for the second out. Here's everybody's favorite Tiger, Kyle Parker. We already know what Tommy Bowden thinks of Parker. Strikeout. The pants must have been too tight. We go to the T7 with USC leading 6-0.
8:50 - We're in the B6. The first CU batter reached on a strikeout and wild pitch. But Havens just made a nice play stabbing a pop in short left field. He had to run a long way. There's a single to LF. Runners at 1&2, 1 out. This is CU's best scoring threat tonight. It's also the first time CU has gotten a runner to second base tonight off Gidwin.
8:45 - USC out 1-2-3 in the T6. We go to the B6 with USC leading 6-0. Godwin still pitching for the Gamecocks. He's allowed just 1 hit with 3 K's. he's kept the ball inthe infield for the most part. Godwin could be the MVP for USC in the series based on the way he's pitched thelast 2 games v. Clemson.
8:40 - Another assist for Wingo. That's 7 tonight. The school record for a 2B in a single game is 9. We go to the T6 with USC leading 6-0.
8:30 - Quiet 5th for USC. 2K's and long fly to RF by Wingo. The Fr. is showing some power tonight. We go to the B5 with USC leading 6-0. Godwin still pitching for USC. Nice catch by Hopper near the LF line for the first out!
8:25 - There's the first hit for CU, a single to RF with 1 out. Bouncer to Darnell. 5-4-3 DP! That didn't take long. Godwin has faced just 1 batter over thre minimum through 4 Inn. It's 6-0 USC as we go to the T5.
8:20 - Darnell hits a rocket off the LF wall. What a drive! Merrifield scores. It's 5-0 USC. 10 hits for the Gamecocks, zip for the Tigers. USC is 22-0 this season when it outhits the opponent. Disher up. He lofts into LCF. The LF drops the ball!! Run scores. It's 6-0 USC. Five runs in the inning. We go to the B4 with USC leading 6-0.
8:15 - Double by Merrifield to LCF. Havens scores. It's 4-0 USC and with 1 out here in the T4. Here comes Leggett. New pitcher for CU. Great offensive outburst here in the T4 for the Gamecocks. The way CU hits the baseball, 4 runs might be enough. The magic number for USC is six runs, though.
8:10 - Home run for Scott Wingo!! Shot to RF. B2B for USC. No. 2 for him. The Gamecocks lead 3-0! That has to hurt for Clemson fans considering his father played at CU. Havens doubles to right! The hits just keep on coming for USC. They have 8 now in 3+ innings.
8:05 - 1 out. Hopper up. There's a drive to LF! It's way outta here! Home run. First of the season for Hopper. USC leads 2-0.
8:00 - Another 4-3 for Wingo. That's 3 assists and a putout tonight for the Fr. from Mauldin. Since he's from the Upstate and his father played for Clemson, competing against the Tigers has to be a thrill. K for secondout. There's another 4-3. 4 assists tonight for Wingo. His season high is 6. We go to the T4 with USC leading 1-0.
7:57 - Lail F-9 as well. We go to the B3 with USC leading 1-0. We'll see if Godwin can make the lead stand up. USC has five hits already. They probably should have more than one run.
7:55 - Great start for USC here in the T3. Merrifield and Smoak have both singled. Runners at 1&3, 0 outs. Darnell up. This has the makings of a big inning. There's a drive to CF. It's caught, but Merrifield scores. It's 1-0 USC. Disher due. USC is 20-5 this season when it scores first. Disher F-9. 2 outs.
7:50 - Another fairly uneventful inning for Godwin in the B2. He issued a 2-out walk but that was it. 4-3, U-3, P-4 are the 3 outs. He's retired 6 of 7. We go to the T3 with the score still 0-0.
7:42 - Havens up. There's a balk! Runners at 2&3. 2 outs. Hit here drives in 2 runs. Havens flies to center. USC had a good opportunity to score right there. The Gamecocks have left 4 runners stranded in the first 2 Inn.
7:40 - Lail was nearly picked off first. But he got back just in time. Base hit to RF by Hopper! Runners at 1&2, 1 out for Wingo. He K's on a 3-2 pitch. 2 outs.
7:35 - Lail opens the T2 with a single to center. That's the second straight inning the leadoff hitter has singled. Enders up. He drives one to RCF. But the Clemson CF makes a nice running catch. 1 out. Hopper up.
7:30 - Great start for Godwin with 2 K's. There's a 4-3 for the third out. That's what I call an easy inning. 1-2-3. We go to the T2 with the score 0-0.
7:20 - Smoak K's looking on 3-2 pitch. Darnell fouls out to RF. It's up to Disher now. He K's looking as well. Good job by Sarratt right there against the heart of USC's order. We go to the B1 with the game 0-0.
7:15 - Havens steps in against Justin Sarratt. We're underway. First pitch is a swinging strike. There's another base hit for Havens! Single to CF. He has 57 hits now. Merrifield up. He bunts. The P drops thre ball. Runners at 1&2, 0 outs. Smoak up. This could be interesting.
7:10 - We're a few minutes away from getting this one underway. The head coaches and umpires are meeting at home plate. Leggett is explaining thre ground rules. USC is wearing their road unforms that look like the NY Yankees/Chicago White Sox. I would say about the stadium is about 70 to 80 percent full right now. I haven't heard the buzz like in previous games. It's definitely a late arriving crowd.
6:45 - Here is tonight's starting lineup for USC with current stats:
Havens - 6 (.394-12-41)
Merrifield - 8 (.263-3-16)
Smoak - 3 (.370-13-38)
Darnell - 5 (.327-12-48)
Disher - DH (.297-13-37)
Lail - 9 (.294-3-19)
Enders - 2 (.303-5-22)
Hopper - 7 (.238-0-3)
Wingo - 4 (.200-1-7)
Godwin- P (3-2, 2.55 ERA, 42.1 IP, 28 hits, 13 euns, 42 K, 9 BB, .188 BA)
Andrew Crisp's injury has certainly forced Tanner to make some adjustments to the lineup. This is just the second time in the last 14 games Hopper has started in LF. Four different players have started there this season. Tanner has also moved Merrifield back to the No. 2 spot after putting Lail there the past 2 games.
6:35 - We're here for tonight's USC-Clemson baseball game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The main storyline here, of course, is the opposite directions the two programs have traveled the last couple of weeks. USC has rebounded from the UGA sweep to win six straight games, including a sweep at Auburn and a win over USC-Upstate Tuesday night Clemson enters the game with a 10-game losing streak. The Tigers' last win was a 6-2 win at Maryland on March 30, meaning they're winless in the month of April. Nick Godwin will start tonight's game. He's 3-2 with a 2.55 ERA. He has allowed 28 H and 13 R in 42.1 IP. Clemson is starting Justin Sarratt, who is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 26.0 IP. He's allowed 25 hits and 10 runs. I'm interested in seeing how many Clemson show up for this game. If I recall correctly. the fourth game last year was not a sellout. We'll see how the CU fans respond.
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9:40 - Thomas still pitching. Strikeout. 1 out. Strikeout. 2 outs. Thomas is throwing BB's. F-9. USC WINS 6-0. USC SWEEPS!!!!!!
9:35 - Darnell rockets a ball down the 3B line for a double. He has 2 doubles and a SF tonight. Good night for the California Kid. Disher flies deep to CF. Darnell to 3rd with 1 out. Darnell stranded at third. WE GO TO BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 6-0.
9:30 - Thomas K's Paulsen. WE GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC AHEAD 6-0.
9:25 - P-4 for the first out in B8. That's four putouts for Wingo tonight to go along with a seaosn-high 7 assists. That's the most assists by a USC player thisseason. F-7 for 2nd out. Here comes Tanner. That will be it for Godwin. What a performance. 7.2 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs so far. Craig Thomas is the new pitcher for USC. Four outs to the sweep.
9:20 - USC has loaded the bases with 2 outs. Smoak L-4. We go to the B8 with USC leading 6-0.
9:15 - Hopper walks with 1 out in T8, becoming the first USC base runner since thr fourth inning. Some CU fans have left the ballpark. They have had little to cheer about tonight. This might be the deadest crowd I've ever seen at a USC-Clemson baseball game. Single by Havens with 2 outs. He has three hits tonight. Havens came in batting .394 and he's 3-for-5 tonight.
9:10 - Leadoff single in the 7th for CU but Godwin retired the next 3 batters to preserve the shutout. We go to the T8 with USC leading 6-0. 5 of the runs scored in the fourth inning. Godwin has done a fabulous job making those runs stand up. If USC holds on, it will mark the first season sweep of 4+ games over Clemson since 1985.
9:05 - Darnell leads off the T7. F-8. Disher up. 8 USC hitters in a row retired. F-7. 9 in a row. F-8 by Lail. Another 1-2-3 inning for USC. It's seventh-inning stretch time. USC leads 6-0.
9:00 - Godwin blows a fastball past Paulsen for the second out. Here's everybody's favorite Tiger, Kyle Parker. We already know what Tommy Bowden thinks of Parker. Strikeout. The pants must have been too tight. We go to the T7 with USC leading 6-0.
8:50 - We're in the B6. The first CU batter reached on a strikeout and wild pitch. But Havens just made a nice play stabbing a pop in short left field. He had to run a long way. There's a single to LF. Runners at 1&2, 1 out. This is CU's best scoring threat tonight. It's also the first time CU has gotten a runner to second base tonight off Gidwin.
8:45 - USC out 1-2-3 in the T6. We go to the B6 with USC leading 6-0. Godwin still pitching for the Gamecocks. He's allowed just 1 hit with 3 K's. he's kept the ball inthe infield for the most part. Godwin could be the MVP for USC in the series based on the way he's pitched thelast 2 games v. Clemson.
8:40 - Another assist for Wingo. That's 7 tonight. The school record for a 2B in a single game is 9. We go to the T6 with USC leading 6-0.
8:30 - Quiet 5th for USC. 2K's and long fly to RF by Wingo. The Fr. is showing some power tonight. We go to the B5 with USC leading 6-0. Godwin still pitching for USC. Nice catch by Hopper near the LF line for the first out!
8:25 - There's the first hit for CU, a single to RF with 1 out. Bouncer to Darnell. 5-4-3 DP! That didn't take long. Godwin has faced just 1 batter over thre minimum through 4 Inn. It's 6-0 USC as we go to the T5.
8:20 - Darnell hits a rocket off the LF wall. What a drive! Merrifield scores. It's 5-0 USC. 10 hits for the Gamecocks, zip for the Tigers. USC is 22-0 this season when it outhits the opponent. Disher up. He lofts into LCF. The LF drops the ball!! Run scores. It's 6-0 USC. Five runs in the inning. We go to the B4 with USC leading 6-0.
8:15 - Double by Merrifield to LCF. Havens scores. It's 4-0 USC and with 1 out here in the T4. Here comes Leggett. New pitcher for CU. Great offensive outburst here in the T4 for the Gamecocks. The way CU hits the baseball, 4 runs might be enough. The magic number for USC is six runs, though.
8:10 - Home run for Scott Wingo!! Shot to RF. B2B for USC. No. 2 for him. The Gamecocks lead 3-0! That has to hurt for Clemson fans considering his father played at CU. Havens doubles to right! The hits just keep on coming for USC. They have 8 now in 3+ innings.
8:05 - 1 out. Hopper up. There's a drive to LF! It's way outta here! Home run. First of the season for Hopper. USC leads 2-0.
8:00 - Another 4-3 for Wingo. That's 3 assists and a putout tonight for the Fr. from Mauldin. Since he's from the Upstate and his father played for Clemson, competing against the Tigers has to be a thrill. K for secondout. There's another 4-3. 4 assists tonight for Wingo. His season high is 6. We go to the T4 with USC leading 1-0.
7:57 - Lail F-9 as well. We go to the B3 with USC leading 1-0. We'll see if Godwin can make the lead stand up. USC has five hits already. They probably should have more than one run.
7:55 - Great start for USC here in the T3. Merrifield and Smoak have both singled. Runners at 1&3, 0 outs. Darnell up. This has the makings of a big inning. There's a drive to CF. It's caught, but Merrifield scores. It's 1-0 USC. Disher due. USC is 20-5 this season when it scores first. Disher F-9. 2 outs.
7:50 - Another fairly uneventful inning for Godwin in the B2. He issued a 2-out walk but that was it. 4-3, U-3, P-4 are the 3 outs. He's retired 6 of 7. We go to the T3 with the score still 0-0.
7:42 - Havens up. There's a balk! Runners at 2&3. 2 outs. Hit here drives in 2 runs. Havens flies to center. USC had a good opportunity to score right there. The Gamecocks have left 4 runners stranded in the first 2 Inn.
7:40 - Lail was nearly picked off first. But he got back just in time. Base hit to RF by Hopper! Runners at 1&2, 1 out for Wingo. He K's on a 3-2 pitch. 2 outs.
7:35 - Lail opens the T2 with a single to center. That's the second straight inning the leadoff hitter has singled. Enders up. He drives one to RCF. But the Clemson CF makes a nice running catch. 1 out. Hopper up.
7:30 - Great start for Godwin with 2 K's. There's a 4-3 for the third out. That's what I call an easy inning. 1-2-3. We go to the T2 with the score 0-0.
7:20 - Smoak K's looking on 3-2 pitch. Darnell fouls out to RF. It's up to Disher now. He K's looking as well. Good job by Sarratt right there against the heart of USC's order. We go to the B1 with the game 0-0.
7:15 - Havens steps in against Justin Sarratt. We're underway. First pitch is a swinging strike. There's another base hit for Havens! Single to CF. He has 57 hits now. Merrifield up. He bunts. The P drops thre ball. Runners at 1&2, 0 outs. Smoak up. This could be interesting.
7:10 - We're a few minutes away from getting this one underway. The head coaches and umpires are meeting at home plate. Leggett is explaining thre ground rules. USC is wearing their road unforms that look like the NY Yankees/Chicago White Sox. I would say about the stadium is about 70 to 80 percent full right now. I haven't heard the buzz like in previous games. It's definitely a late arriving crowd.
6:45 - Here is tonight's starting lineup for USC with current stats:
Havens - 6 (.394-12-41)
Merrifield - 8 (.263-3-16)
Smoak - 3 (.370-13-38)
Darnell - 5 (.327-12-48)
Disher - DH (.297-13-37)
Lail - 9 (.294-3-19)
Enders - 2 (.303-5-22)
Hopper - 7 (.238-0-3)
Wingo - 4 (.200-1-7)
Godwin- P (3-2, 2.55 ERA, 42.1 IP, 28 hits, 13 euns, 42 K, 9 BB, .188 BA)
Andrew Crisp's injury has certainly forced Tanner to make some adjustments to the lineup. This is just the second time in the last 14 games Hopper has started in LF. Four different players have started there this season. Tanner has also moved Merrifield back to the No. 2 spot after putting Lail there the past 2 games.
6:35 - We're here for tonight's USC-Clemson baseball game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The main storyline here, of course, is the opposite directions the two programs have traveled the last couple of weeks. USC has rebounded from the UGA sweep to win six straight games, including a sweep at Auburn and a win over USC-Upstate Tuesday night Clemson enters the game with a 10-game losing streak. The Tigers' last win was a 6-2 win at Maryland on March 30, meaning they're winless in the month of April. Nick Godwin will start tonight's game. He's 3-2 with a 2.55 ERA. He has allowed 28 H and 13 R in 42.1 IP. Clemson is starting Justin Sarratt, who is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 26.0 IP. He's allowed 25 hits and 10 runs. I'm interested in seeing how many Clemson show up for this game. If I recall correctly. the fourth game last year was not a sellout. We'll see how the CU fans respond.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.