Raleigh Regional - Day 1 (USC v. Charlotte)
posted by Scott Hood on Friday, May 30, 2008
5:20 - WE GO TO THE NINTH INNING WITH USC LEADING 15-7.
5:15 - 3-RUN BLAST BY DARNELL MAKES IT 15-7. This one is probably out of reach. USC will play Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the N.C. State-James Madison game. A USC-NS State matchup would be very interesting. We'll see what happens.
5:10 - Pitching change for UNCC. It's 12-7 USC with 1 out in the B8 thanks to a 2-run single by Merrifield. This one has been a slugfest. We've moved past the 3-hour mark. USC has 12 runs and 16 hits today. USC is 17-2 this season when it scores 10+ runs.
5:00 - Another great defensive play by Darnell to end the T8!! He snagged a liner and fired to first to catch the runner off-base. Great play! We go to the B8 with USC leading, 10-7.
4:55 - USC had a good chance to add to its lead in the B7 but K's by Disher and Bangs ended the threat. We go to the T8 with USC leading, 10-7. Cisco back out for the T8.
4:45 - Pitching change for UNCC in the B7. Smoak singled and is now 4-for-4 with a HBP today. He has a sweet hitting stroke, which is the major reason he'll be a very wealthy young man in about 2 months. It's still 10-7 USC.
4:38 - Cisco comes ina nd does the job with a K. We go to the B7 with USC leading, 10-7. Another score: Florida loses to Tulane, 7-4.
4:35 - 3-run HR for UNCC has made it a 10-7 game here in the T7. Tanner comes out. Dyson is gone. Cisco comes in. Dyson was splendid through 5 Inn, but lost his effectiveness in the 6th and 7th, giving up all 7 runs in those 2 innings. Unfortunately, his pitching line won't look great, buthe was great for 5 innings. Cisco is 5-3 with a 4.74 ERA in 68.1 IP.
4:25 - USC responds to the 4-run 6th by UNCC by scoring 1 run in the B6 on doubles by Bangs and Crisp. USC has 13 hits through 6 Inn. We go to the T7 with USC leading, 10-4. Dyson comes out for the 7th. This is a little surprising.
4:10 - Dyson surrenders 4 runs and 5 hits in the T6. The final 2 scored on a HR. It's 9-4 USC as we go to the B6. Cisco was warming up in the bullpen. He
4:05 - Well, just as I start to sing Dyson's praises, he gave up a HBP and three straight singles. Now its 9-2 USC on SF.
4:00 - USC leaves the bases loaded in the B5 after 2 HBP and BB. We go to the T6 with USC leading 9-0. Dyson's shutout streak in intact. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 11.2 IP over the last 2 outings. He's been dominant. No question he'll be the No. 1 guy next season.
3:55 - Couple of scores to pass along: Missouri beat Ole Miss, 7-0 and Coastal Carolina beat Columbia, 10-2. We have a lull here with a visit to the mound by the UNCC pitching coach. 2 HBP.
3:50 - Disher guns down a would-be base-stealer for the second out in the T5. Disher has improved considerably as a catcher over the last 12 months. We go to the B5 with USC leading, 9-0.
3:40 - USC pours it on with 3 runs in the B4 to make it 9-0. After Smoak's hit, Mack's DP grounder with the bases loaded scored a run. Bangs then ripped, and I do mean ripped, a RBI single into LF. That may have been the hardest hit ball all day. Bangs is really emerging as the DH. We go to the T5 with USC leading, 9-0.
3:30 - We have a pitching change for Charlotte after Smoak rips a 2B to RF to score Merrifield. That is Smoak's 3rd RBI of the game and his 53rd career double. The pro scouts in attendance today have to be impressed. It's 7-0 USC here in the B4.
3:25 - A bizarre error by Justin Smoak highlighted the T4. A throw from Darnell that should have been the thir dout went through the webbing of his glove. The play put runners at 1&3 with 2puts for UNCC, but Dyson worked out of trouble. We go to the B4 with USC leading, 6-0.
3:10 - USC got a pair of singles from Bangs and Crisp in the B3 but that's it. First scoreless at-bat of the game for USC. We go to the T4 with USC leading, 6-0. USC has 8 hits in 3 Inn.
3:00 - Some more outstanding glove work by the Gamecocks in the T3. Wingo ranged to his right on a ball up the middle and threw the runner out to end the inning. Charlotte got a runner to 3rd, so Wingo's play saved a run. By my count, that's 4 nice defensive plays by USC today. We go to the B3 with USC leading, 6-0.
2:55 - Another productive at-bat for the Gamecocks. USC has increased its lead to 6-0 on RBI hits by Havens and Smoak. Both of them are 2-for-2 in the game. The top three hitters in USC's order are a combined 4-for-4 with 3 RBI, a sacrifice and a walk. That's getting the job done. We go to the T3 with USC leading 6-0.
2:47 - We've been informed that Harley Lail has a bruised right knee, which is why he was removed from the game. Crisp is playing RF.
2:45 - Pitching change for Charlotte here in the B2 with USC leading 5-0, Havens scored Wingo with a single to CF.
2:35 - Andrew Crisp PH for Lail in the B2. Lail was injured when he crashed into the fence in RF foul territory in the T2. He stayed in the game at that point but Tanner decided to pull him and let him recover from his injuries.
2:30 - Mack followed up his HR with a sensational leaping catch in LF to rob Chris Taylor of extra bases. USC is playing great defense so far. Charlotte had a couple of singles but that's it. We go to the B2 with USC leading, 4-0. The Gamecocks are 32-2 this season when they score 6+ runs. They're also 22-8 when they score in the 1st inning and 28-10 when they score 1st. The Gamecocks look strong early!!
2:20 - The USC offense jumped on Charlotte starter Joe Yermal for 4 runs in the B1. The inning was capped by a 2-out, 3-run HR by DeAngelo Mack to LF for his 6th HR of the season. It was an opposite field shot. He now has 20 RBI. Havens started the inning with a double and eventually scored on a single by Smoak. Great 1st inning for USC. Just what Ray Tanner was looking for. We go to the T2 with USC leading, 4-0.
2:05 - Great start for Dyson inthe top of the 1st. But he had some defensive help from Darnell at 3B, who charged in to make a couple of nice plays. Dyson fanned Lyerly, who came in with a .367 BA, 14 HR and 73 RBI for the final out. We go to the B1 with score tied at 0-0.
2:00 - We're almost ready to go. I will be providing updates after every half-inning per NCAA regulations. Dyson has completed his warm-ups.
1:30 - We're about 30 minutes from the first pitch. USC is wearing their all-white uniforms with no stripes and "Carolina" splashed across the front. The Caps are white with the red brim. The Gamecocks are taking fielding practice right now and Charlotte will follow. Here's the list of the other early games today:
Ole Miss v. Missouri (Coral Gables)
Arizona v. Eastern Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Georgia v. Lipscomb (Athens)(UGA elected to play early game)
Virginia v. UCLA (Fullerton, CA)
Arkansas v. Pepperdine (Stanford)
TCU v. Wichita State (Stillwater, OK)
Tulane v. Florida (Tallahassee)
Elon v. UNC-Wilmington (Cary, NC)
Coastal Carolina v. Columbia (Conway)(CCU elected to play first game)
Nebraska v. Eastern Illinois (Lincoln)
LSU v. Texas Southern (Baton Rouge)
St. John's v. Texas (Houston)
Houston v. Dallas Baptist (College Station)
California v. San Diego (Long Beach)
Oklahoma v. Vanderbilt (Tempe, AZ)
A couple of the game are already underway. We'll try to get scores for you.
12:50 - Here is USC's starting lineup with current stats for Game 1 of the Raleigh Regional:
Havens - 6 (.363-16-53)
Merrifield - 8 (.321-3-22)
Smoak - 3 (.377-21-66)
Darnell - 5 (.310-18-78)
Disher - 2 (.309-19-57)
Mack - 7 (.275-5-17)
Bangs - DH (.270-2-5)
Lail - 9 (.235-5-30)
Wingo - 4 (.217-16-48)
Dyson - P (7-0, 3.27 ERA, 44.0 IP, 32 hits, 17 runs, 43 K, 26 BB, .212 OBA)
USC has finished taking batting practice in the cages next to the field. Charlotte has started BP. We're about 70 minutes from the first pitch.
This is the same lineup USC used in the final two games of the SEC Tournament.
12 Noon - Paul Collins and I have arrived at the media center across the street from the ballpark here at N.C. Center. I will be seating in the auxiliary press seating area which is substandard to say the least. The N.C. State SID told me they've been overwhelmed by media credential requests. Wednesday, they had over 90 requests. It could be in excess of 100 now. The first day here could be interesting to say the least, especially from a pitching perspective. Three of the 4 starting pitchers, including both hurlers in the USC-Charlotte game, are freshmen. Sam Dyson will start for USC. Obviously, the first game is huge. If you lose, you're forced to play one game on Saturday, two on Sunday and one on Monday to win the Regional. That's a lot of baseball and a lot of stress on your pitching staff. It's pretty quiet here the ballpark right now. A few media people are strolling in. I'm the only writer here right now in the media center. The post-game interviews will be conducted here as well. We'll have USC's starting lineup as soon as we get it.
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5:25 - Solo HR for UNCC in the 9th, but that's it. USC WINS 15-8. Gamecocks will play NC State or James Madison Sat. at 7 p.m. Teams combined for 23 runs and 32 hits. This one was a slugfest.
5:20 - WE GO TO THE NINTH INNING WITH USC LEADING 15-7.
5:15 - 3-RUN BLAST BY DARNELL MAKES IT 15-7. This one is probably out of reach. USC will play Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the N.C. State-James Madison game. A USC-NS State matchup would be very interesting. We'll see what happens.
5:10 - Pitching change for UNCC. It's 12-7 USC with 1 out in the B8 thanks to a 2-run single by Merrifield. This one has been a slugfest. We've moved past the 3-hour mark. USC has 12 runs and 16 hits today. USC is 17-2 this season when it scores 10+ runs.
5:00 - Another great defensive play by Darnell to end the T8!! He snagged a liner and fired to first to catch the runner off-base. Great play! We go to the B8 with USC leading, 10-7.
4:55 - USC had a good chance to add to its lead in the B7 but K's by Disher and Bangs ended the threat. We go to the T8 with USC leading, 10-7. Cisco back out for the T8.
4:45 - Pitching change for UNCC in the B7. Smoak singled and is now 4-for-4 with a HBP today. He has a sweet hitting stroke, which is the major reason he'll be a very wealthy young man in about 2 months. It's still 10-7 USC.
4:38 - Cisco comes ina nd does the job with a K. We go to the B7 with USC leading, 10-7. Another score: Florida loses to Tulane, 7-4.
4:35 - 3-run HR for UNCC has made it a 10-7 game here in the T7. Tanner comes out. Dyson is gone. Cisco comes in. Dyson was splendid through 5 Inn, but lost his effectiveness in the 6th and 7th, giving up all 7 runs in those 2 innings. Unfortunately, his pitching line won't look great, buthe was great for 5 innings. Cisco is 5-3 with a 4.74 ERA in 68.1 IP.
4:25 - USC responds to the 4-run 6th by UNCC by scoring 1 run in the B6 on doubles by Bangs and Crisp. USC has 13 hits through 6 Inn. We go to the T7 with USC leading, 10-4. Dyson comes out for the 7th. This is a little surprising.
4:10 - Dyson surrenders 4 runs and 5 hits in the T6. The final 2 scored on a HR. It's 9-4 USC as we go to the B6. Cisco was warming up in the bullpen. He
4:05 - Well, just as I start to sing Dyson's praises, he gave up a HBP and three straight singles. Now its 9-2 USC on SF.
4:00 - USC leaves the bases loaded in the B5 after 2 HBP and BB. We go to the T6 with USC leading 9-0. Dyson's shutout streak in intact. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 11.2 IP over the last 2 outings. He's been dominant. No question he'll be the No. 1 guy next season.
3:55 - Couple of scores to pass along: Missouri beat Ole Miss, 7-0 and Coastal Carolina beat Columbia, 10-2. We have a lull here with a visit to the mound by the UNCC pitching coach. 2 HBP.
3:50 - Disher guns down a would-be base-stealer for the second out in the T5. Disher has improved considerably as a catcher over the last 12 months. We go to the B5 with USC leading, 9-0.
3:40 - USC pours it on with 3 runs in the B4 to make it 9-0. After Smoak's hit, Mack's DP grounder with the bases loaded scored a run. Bangs then ripped, and I do mean ripped, a RBI single into LF. That may have been the hardest hit ball all day. Bangs is really emerging as the DH. We go to the T5 with USC leading, 9-0.
3:30 - We have a pitching change for Charlotte after Smoak rips a 2B to RF to score Merrifield. That is Smoak's 3rd RBI of the game and his 53rd career double. The pro scouts in attendance today have to be impressed. It's 7-0 USC here in the B4.
3:25 - A bizarre error by Justin Smoak highlighted the T4. A throw from Darnell that should have been the thir dout went through the webbing of his glove. The play put runners at 1&3 with 2puts for UNCC, but Dyson worked out of trouble. We go to the B4 with USC leading, 6-0.
3:10 - USC got a pair of singles from Bangs and Crisp in the B3 but that's it. First scoreless at-bat of the game for USC. We go to the T4 with USC leading, 6-0. USC has 8 hits in 3 Inn.
3:00 - Some more outstanding glove work by the Gamecocks in the T3. Wingo ranged to his right on a ball up the middle and threw the runner out to end the inning. Charlotte got a runner to 3rd, so Wingo's play saved a run. By my count, that's 4 nice defensive plays by USC today. We go to the B3 with USC leading, 6-0.
2:55 - Another productive at-bat for the Gamecocks. USC has increased its lead to 6-0 on RBI hits by Havens and Smoak. Both of them are 2-for-2 in the game. The top three hitters in USC's order are a combined 4-for-4 with 3 RBI, a sacrifice and a walk. That's getting the job done. We go to the T3 with USC leading 6-0.
2:47 - We've been informed that Harley Lail has a bruised right knee, which is why he was removed from the game. Crisp is playing RF.
2:45 - Pitching change for Charlotte here in the B2 with USC leading 5-0, Havens scored Wingo with a single to CF.
2:35 - Andrew Crisp PH for Lail in the B2. Lail was injured when he crashed into the fence in RF foul territory in the T2. He stayed in the game at that point but Tanner decided to pull him and let him recover from his injuries.
2:30 - Mack followed up his HR with a sensational leaping catch in LF to rob Chris Taylor of extra bases. USC is playing great defense so far. Charlotte had a couple of singles but that's it. We go to the B2 with USC leading, 4-0. The Gamecocks are 32-2 this season when they score 6+ runs. They're also 22-8 when they score in the 1st inning and 28-10 when they score 1st. The Gamecocks look strong early!!
2:20 - The USC offense jumped on Charlotte starter Joe Yermal for 4 runs in the B1. The inning was capped by a 2-out, 3-run HR by DeAngelo Mack to LF for his 6th HR of the season. It was an opposite field shot. He now has 20 RBI. Havens started the inning with a double and eventually scored on a single by Smoak. Great 1st inning for USC. Just what Ray Tanner was looking for. We go to the T2 with USC leading, 4-0.
2:05 - Great start for Dyson inthe top of the 1st. But he had some defensive help from Darnell at 3B, who charged in to make a couple of nice plays. Dyson fanned Lyerly, who came in with a .367 BA, 14 HR and 73 RBI for the final out. We go to the B1 with score tied at 0-0.
2:00 - We're almost ready to go. I will be providing updates after every half-inning per NCAA regulations. Dyson has completed his warm-ups.
1:30 - We're about 30 minutes from the first pitch. USC is wearing their all-white uniforms with no stripes and "Carolina" splashed across the front. The Caps are white with the red brim. The Gamecocks are taking fielding practice right now and Charlotte will follow. Here's the list of the other early games today:
Ole Miss v. Missouri (Coral Gables)
Arizona v. Eastern Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Georgia v. Lipscomb (Athens)(UGA elected to play early game)
Virginia v. UCLA (Fullerton, CA)
Arkansas v. Pepperdine (Stanford)
TCU v. Wichita State (Stillwater, OK)
Tulane v. Florida (Tallahassee)
Elon v. UNC-Wilmington (Cary, NC)
Coastal Carolina v. Columbia (Conway)(CCU elected to play first game)
Nebraska v. Eastern Illinois (Lincoln)
LSU v. Texas Southern (Baton Rouge)
St. John's v. Texas (Houston)
Houston v. Dallas Baptist (College Station)
California v. San Diego (Long Beach)
Oklahoma v. Vanderbilt (Tempe, AZ)
A couple of the game are already underway. We'll try to get scores for you.
12:50 - Here is USC's starting lineup with current stats for Game 1 of the Raleigh Regional:
Havens - 6 (.363-16-53)
Merrifield - 8 (.321-3-22)
Smoak - 3 (.377-21-66)
Darnell - 5 (.310-18-78)
Disher - 2 (.309-19-57)
Mack - 7 (.275-5-17)
Bangs - DH (.270-2-5)
Lail - 9 (.235-5-30)
Wingo - 4 (.217-16-48)
Dyson - P (7-0, 3.27 ERA, 44.0 IP, 32 hits, 17 runs, 43 K, 26 BB, .212 OBA)
USC has finished taking batting practice in the cages next to the field. Charlotte has started BP. We're about 70 minutes from the first pitch.
This is the same lineup USC used in the final two games of the SEC Tournament.
12 Noon - Paul Collins and I have arrived at the media center across the street from the ballpark here at N.C. Center. I will be seating in the auxiliary press seating area which is substandard to say the least. The N.C. State SID told me they've been overwhelmed by media credential requests. Wednesday, they had over 90 requests. It could be in excess of 100 now. The first day here could be interesting to say the least, especially from a pitching perspective. Three of the 4 starting pitchers, including both hurlers in the USC-Charlotte game, are freshmen. Sam Dyson will start for USC. Obviously, the first game is huge. If you lose, you're forced to play one game on Saturday, two on Sunday and one on Monday to win the Regional. That's a lot of baseball and a lot of stress on your pitching staff. It's pretty quiet here the ballpark right now. A few media people are strolling in. I'm the only writer here right now in the media center. The post-game interviews will be conducted here as well. We'll have USC's starting lineup as soon as we get it.
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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 @.