NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A trio of South Carolina hurlers combined to face the minimum, allowing two hits in a 2-0 shutout of Vanderbilt Sunday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The Gamecocks claimed the series and improved to 25-7 overall and 9-3 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Commodores fell to 26-8 overall and 6-6 in league action.
Jay Brown threw 6.1 innings of two-hit shutout baseball with two strikeouts for the Gamecocks to move to 2-0 on the year. Michael Roth got the only batter he faced to line into a double play and Matt Price retired the side in order in two innings of relief to pick up his fourth save of the year.
“They threw the ball outside when they had to,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “They threw the ball inside when they had to. They were able to jam us. They were able to throw a breaking ball that, for whatever reason, we offered at.”
SC’s Whit Merrifield took Taylor Hill’s first pitch offering of the game and clubbed a homer down the left field line to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
Hill (3-3) went 7.2 innings and allowed just the one run on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. It was the longest outing of his career and the first time he had gone past the fifth inning in conference play.
“I’m very proud of Taylor in how he pitched,” added Corbin. “He pitched very well and gave us every opportunity to win.” Brian Harris led off the bottom of the first with a single but was eliminated on a double play. That would be the only Commodore base runner until the seventh when Harris again led off with a single. Bryan Johns bunted him to second and the Gamecocks brought in left-handed reliever Michael Roth to face Aaron Westlake. Roth started the at-bat with three straight balls. After a strike, Westlake lined a ball that shortstop Bobby Haney was able to grab and touch second base to get Harris before he could get back for the double play.
Harris had the lone Commodore hits on the afternoon.
The shutout was the first for Vanderbilt at home in SEC play since LSU won 3-0 on May 1, 2005.
The Commodores will continue their eight-game home stand on Tuesday when local rival Middle Tennessee comes to Hawkins Field for a 6 p.m. tilt. It will be the first meeting between the schools this year after facing off in the NCAA Louisville Regional a year ago.
