South Carolina Defeats Wofford, 8-4

Columbia, S.C. –

Gamecock sophomore right-hander Colby Holmes worked a career-high 5.1 innings to earn his first win of the year and was backed by an offense that featured a 3-for-3 day by Adrian Morales with a home run as well as a career-high four RBI by junior outfielder Jake Williams as South Carolina snapped a two-game losing streak with an 8-4 win over Wofford on Wednesday night at Carolina Stadium.  The Gamecocks open SEC play this weekend hosting a three-game series vs. Georgia beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m.

After Gamecock left-hander Steven Neff hurled a perfect first inning in a predetermined split, Holmes entered the game and did not allow a hit until the seventh inning on his way to his first victory of the year.  Holmes allowed two runs on one hit with four strikeouts and three walks.  Wofford starter Eric Eck suffered the loss and is now 0-3 on the year.  He allowed two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Adrian Morales gave the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when he drilled a solo home run to left field.  Morales crushed a 1-0 pitch to left field for his second homer of the year.  Carolina extended the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning.  Scott Wingo singled with one out followed by a walk to Adam Matthews and a two-out walk to Christian Walker that loaded the bases.  Wingo would then score as Wofford reliever Ryan Traylor hurled a wild pitch allowing the Gamecocks to take a two-run lead. 

South Carolina increased the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Christian Walker drew a leadoff walk, his second free pass of the night followed by a base hit by Adrian Morales.  With a pair of runners on base, Jake Williams drilled a triple to the gap in left-center scoring both runners.  Williams leads the team with three triples on the year.

With three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Gamecocks extended the lead to 7-0.  Scott Wingo singled and scored on a fielding error by Wofford shortstop Matt Moore.  That error would lead to two more unearned runs for Carolina as Williams would drive in two more on the evening with a RBI single that plated home Walker and Morales.

Wofford would get on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning.  Konstantine Diamaduros led off with a single, Wofford’s first hit of the game followed by one-out walks to Landon Bennett and Josh McKinney that would load the bases.  Matt Moore put the Terriers on the scoreboard with a two-out two-run single.

Carolina got a run back in the bottom of the seventh to go ahead 8-2.  Robert Beary had a leadoff walk and Adam Matthews singled with one out to give the Gamecocks runners on the corners.  Jackie Bradley Jr. drove in Beary with a deep sacrifice fly to right-center.

Wofford crept to within four runs in the top of the eighth with two runs in the frame.  James Foster opened the inning with a walk followed by a single by Mac Doyle.  With the bases full and two outs, Josh McKinney laced a two-run single up the middle that scored Foster and Doyle and cut the Gamecocks lead to 8-4.

South Carolina out-hit Wofford 13-5 on the evening.  Morales finished 3-for-3 and reached base in all five plate appearances.  He scored three runs as well.  Williams was 3-for-5 with four RBI.  Scott Wingo and Adam Matthews each had two hits apiece also.