South Carolina comes out on top in pitchers' duel
Posted: May 14, 2010 at 9:29 p.m.
FAYETTEVILLE — In a battle of undefeated pitchers, South Carolina's bullpen bolstered its starter and kept Arkansas quiet after the sixth inning Friday night for a 3-2 victory at Baum Stadium.
Blake Cooper worked seven innings in the start and struck out six batters, allowing two runs on three hits. It was the lowest hit total for the Hogs all season. Meanwhile, an RBI double by Jackie Bradley Jr., in the seventh inning proved to be the difference before Razorbacks starter Drew Smyly was pulled from the mound.
Arkansas (38-12, 16-9 SEC) was unable to respond as it had most of the evening after a Gamecocks score, and South Carolina (39-11, 18-7) used its bullpen for a strong eighth inning against the Razorbacks' biggest hitters.
Three pitchers were used in the eighth for the Gamecocks, who left two Razorback runners stranded on the basepaths. South Carolina was precise and surgical with its bullpen. Left-hander Michael Roth took the mound and faced just one batter — Zack Cox — and struck him out on three pitches before being replaced by right-hander Matt Price, who ended the eighth inning unscathed against Brett Eibner and Andy Wilkins.
Wilkins tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a double to the right-field corner.
The bottom of the Razorbacks' order proved to be the dagger on offense. The Hogs' last four batters in the lineup went 0-for-15 at the plate. Pitcher Matt Price struck out two in the bottom of the lineup and another grounded out to end the game.
Arkansas never led in the game. Smyly (8-1) rebounded after allowing a run in the first inning, striking out five batters in the first two frames and finished his first loss of the season with nine strikeouts.
Game 2 of the three-game series is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. at Baum Stadium on Saturday. Mike Bolsinger (5-2, 4.65 ERA) will take the mound for Arkansas, while South Carolina sends Sam Dyson (4-4, 4.30) to the hill.
Read the Saturday edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and WholeHogSports.com for more on this story.
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