CHARLESTON, S.C. – Bryan Altman went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and his fourth home run of the season while Drew Mahaffey shut the Gamecocks down in the final three innings as The Citadel topped No. 28 South Carolina, 12-5, Tuesday night in front of 3,633 at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs (15-9) won their sixth consecutive game and scored 12 runs on the Gamecocks for the first time since 1993 as The Citadel scored 12 runs on 10 hits while capitalizing on three Gamecocks errors. South Carolina (18-8) scored five runs on nine hits in the game, dropping their second game to a Southern Conference opponent this season in six tries.
Altman’s home run was the first of three runs the Bulldogs scored in the eighth inning, putting the game out of reach for South Carolina. Drew Mahaffey retired all nine batters faced in three innings on the mound, striking out six, as he collected his fourth save of the season. Mahaffey has now retired 20 of the last 22 batters faced, 15 of those by strikeouts.
“I thought [Matt] Talley did a good job keeping us in the ball game tonight,” said Bulldogs head coach Fred Jordan. “[Drew] Mahaffey came in and stroked it pretty good. I thought we played well, we played good defense and we got some timely hits.”
Matt Talley (4-0) picked up his fourth win in four starts this year, holding Carolina to three runs – two earned – on six hits while walking four and striking out five in 6.0 innings on the mound. Raymond Copenhaver followed, facing four batters in the seventh inning but failed to get an out as he allowed two runs on three hits.
“We really got outplayed tonight. Talley really made some great pitches when he needed them. When Mahaffey went out there, it was lights out. We didn’t play well enough to win and you have to give The Citadel credit. They played well tonight and they have some outstanding pitching.”
Matt Price (1-1) took the loss in his first career start as he allowed four runs on three hits in 2.2 innings pitched. Price walked two and struck out two.
After the Gamecocks took the 1-0 lead in the top of the third off a Jackie Bradley, Jr. RBI single, The Citadel responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs. With bases loaded, Sonny Meade was hit by a pitch to score the Bulldogs first run of the inning. On a fluke play, Richard Jones recorded two RBI on a groundout to first base. Two batters later, David Greene hit a sacrifice fly to center field to send Meade across the plate.
After USC scored one run in the fifth off a Scott Wingo home run to right, The Citadel again responded with one run of its own in the bottom half of the inning as Greene hit and RBI single to left.
Four more Bulldog runs came across the plate in the sixth inning as Meade’s fielder’s choice to second scored pinch runner Brian Shubsda, who advanced to third on two wild pitches. Back-to-back RBI singles by Richard Jones and Chris McGuiness scored two more runs for the Bulldogs as The Citadel took the 9-2 lead.
South Carolina charged back in the seventh with three runs as Nick Ebert hit a two-run double to deep center field with runners on first and second. Two batters later, Ebert scored on an RBI double by Andrew Crisp to pull the Gamecocks within a four run deficit at 9-5.
The Citadel returns to action on Wednesday, April 1 as the Bulldogs host Winthrop at 6 p.m. at Riley Park, weather permitting. For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, please visit the official home of The Citadel Athletics at CitadelSports.com.
