COLUMBIA, S.C. — Catcher Trent Kline collected four hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in four runs to lead third-ranked South Carolina to a 9-5 victory over LSU at Sarge Frye Field.
South Carolina improved to 17-3 overall, 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
LSU, now 13-9 overall and 1-2 in the SEC, returns to action at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when the Tigers play host to Southeastern Louisiana in Alex Box Stadium.
South Carolina led 2-0 when the Gamecocks broke the game open in the seventh against LSU reliever Robert Lara. Travis Jones tripled and scored on Harley Lail’s RBI single before Kline ripped a two-run double to increase the advantage to 5-0.
James Darnell added a two-run single to cap the five-run seventh inning as the Gamecocks held a seemingly comfortable 7-0 lead.
LSU, however, struck for five runs of its own in the eighth inning against South Carolina relievers Curtis Johnson and Wynn Pelzer.
Designated hitter Ryan Schimpf started the rally with a leadoff homer, his second dinger of the season. A two-run single by Blake Dean and a two-run double by Steven Waguespack narrowed the gap to 7-5.
Pelzer finally ended the uprising when J.T. Wise popped to second with Waguespack at second base.
Kline belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning against reliever Clay Dirks to give the Gamecocks a 9-5 cushion.
Schjmpf led off the LSU ninth with a single, but Pelzer then fanned Buzzy Haydel and Michael Hollander. Chris McGhee walked before Jared Mitchell popped to shortstop to end the game.
“I was very pleased that our guys fought back after being down 7-0 late in the game,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “That demonstrates the type of character we have on this club. We didn’t win today, but I was encouraged by our team’s resolve, and I’m looking forward to helping this team continue to improve.”
South Carolina starter Blake Cooper (3-0) earned the win Sunday, firing 5.2 scoreless innings. Cooper allowed just two hits while recording one walk and four strikeouts.
LSU freshman right-hander T.J. Forrest (1-1) was charged with the loss despite pitching effectively in a five-inning outing. Forrest limited the Gamecocks to one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
South Carolina led 1-0 in the first inning when Harley Lail walked, stole second base, advanced to third on Trent Kline’s single and scored on a passed ball.
The Gamecocks added to the lead in the sixth when Kline doubled off of LSU reliever Kyle Beerbohm and scored on Justin Smoak’s RBI single.
South Carolina 9, LSU 5 (Mar 18, 2007 at Columbia, S.C.)
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LSU…………………. 000 000 050 – 5 7 0 (13-9, 1-2 SEC)
South Carolina…… 100 001 52X – 9 10 1 (17-3, 2-1 SEC)
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Pitchers: LSU – T.J. Forrest; Kyle Beerbohm(6); Paul Bertuccini(6); Robert Lara(7);
Nolan Cain(7); Clay Dirks(7). South Carolina – Blake Cooper; Will Atwood(6); Curtis Johnson(7); Wynn Pelzer(8).
Win-Blake Cooper(3-0) Loss-T.J. Forrest(1-1) T-2:52 A-4736
HR LSU – Ryan Schimpf (2).
HR USC – Trent Kline (3).
Atwood faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Cain faced 3 batters in the 7th.
Johnson faced 3 batters in the 8th.
LSU Baseball Report ? March 19, 2007
Overall Record: 13-9
SEC: 1-2
Last Week: 2-2
March 13 ? McNEESE STATE (W, 6-3)
March 16 ? at # 3 South Carolina (L, 0-5)
March 17 ? at # 3 South Carolina (W, 6-5)
March 18 ? at # 3 South Carolina (L, 5-9)
Nominee for PITCHER of the Week
Jared Bradford, RHP, Jr., Hueytown, Ala.
LSU right-hander Jared Bradford limited South Carolina to three runs in 8.1 innings Saturday, and the Tigers withstood a late Gamecock charge to record the victory . . . LSU collected 10 hits, including three for extra bases, and did not commit an error en route to ending the Gamecocks’ six-game win streak . . . Bradford (4-1) allowed three runs on six hits in 8.1 innings, the longest outing by an LSU pitcher this season . . . the junior from Hueytown, Ala. fired 132 pitches, recording two walks and six strikeouts.
Notes on the Tigers
LSU split its four games last week as the Tigers have won six of their last nine contests . . . LSU defeated third-ranked South Carolina, 6-5, on Saturday at Sarge Frye Field . . . LSU right-hander Jared Bradford limited South Carolina to three runs in 8.1 innings Saturday, and the Tigers withstood a late Gamecock charge to record the victory . . . LSU collected 10 hits, including three for extra bases, and did not commit an error en route to ending the Gamecocks’ six-game win streak . . . Bradford (4-1) allowed three runs on six hits in 8.1 innings, the longest outing by an LSU pitcher this season . . . the junior from Hueytown, Ala. fired 132 pitches, recording two walks and six strikeouts . . . Freshman right-hander T.J. Forrest pitched very effectively on Sunday at South Carolina in his first career SEC appearance . . . Forrest, who had Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow just 11 months ago, worked the first five innings of Sunday’s contest, limiting the Gamecocks to one unearned run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts . . . Forrest left the game after having thrown 57pitches ? he remains on a pitch count as he continues his recovery from the surgery . . . including Forrest on the mound, LSU started five true freshmen in Sunday’s game at South Carolina ? the others were centerfielder Jared Mitchell, leftfielder Blake Dean, catcher Sean Ochinko and designated hitter Ryan Schimpf . . . Mitchell, Dean and Ochinko also started Games 1 and 2 of the South Carolina series . . . Schimpf enjoyed an excellent day at the plate on Sunday as he was 3-for-4 with a homer and an RBI . . . LSU left-hander Charlie Furbush delivered a solid outing on Friday at South Carolina, recording a season-high 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings . . . Furbush allowed three earned runs on six hits against the Gamecocks . . . LSU tied a season-high with three homers in Tuesday’s 6-3 win over McNeese State ? leftfielder Blake Dean, rightfielder Steven Waguespack and catcher Sean Ochinko each unloaded a HR as the Tigers hit three dingers in a game for the third time this season.