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March 20, 2012
Furman Falls To Sixth-Ranked South Carolina, 8-5
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Joey Pankake had five hits and Evan Marzilli went 4-for-5, homered, and scored four runs to propel nationally sixth-ranked South Carolina to an 8-5 victory over Furman in front of 5,965 fans at Fluor Field on Tuesday evening.
The win improves South Carolina to 16-4 on the season while Furman falls to 11-11 on the campaign.
Pankake had five consecutive hits before hitting into a double play in the ninth to spoil his bid for a perfect evening. The freshman from Ealsey doubled and drove in a pair or runs.
Marzilli's work at the plate included a three-run home run down the right field line in the sixth inning that gave the Gamecocks a 6-2 lead.
South Carolina banged out a season high 16 hits.
Will Miller headlined Furman's offense with a 3-for-4, 3-RBI display. The senior center fielder cracked his team leading sixth home run in the seventh to pull the Paladins to within three runs at 8-5.
Taylor Johnson also homered for the Paladins, hitting a two-run shot to left field in the fourth that tied the game at 2-2.
The win was credited to Hunter Privette (1-0), who came on for Gamecock starter Jordan Montgomery with two outs in the bottom of the fifth with USC leading 3-2.
Furman starter Tyler Wood (3-2) was charged with the loss, yielding three runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He walked four and fanned two.
South Carolina took a 2-0 lead with a run in the first and another in the third on Christian Walker's sacrifice fly.
Johnson tied it with a 2-run blast off Montgomery in the fourth, but South Carolina answered with a run in the fifth for a 3-2 lead and with a three-run sixth on Marzilli's three-run clout that sailed over the right field wall just inside the Pesky Pole.
Furman left the bases loaded in the sixth after Tyler Webb retired Paladin pinch-hitter Harrison Farmer on a fly to right following a 13-pitch at bat.
The Paladins put runners at first and third with one out in the eighth but failed to score.
Evan Beal worked a perfect ninth to notch his fourth save.
Six South Carolina pitchers combined to record 15 strikeouts, including a career high eight by Montgomery.
Furman opens a three-game Southern Conference series against Georgia Southern this Friday at Latham Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
