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4/2/04 – Jeremy Sowers Strikes Out Nine in 6-2 Win Over South Carolina 4/2/2004
Jeremy Sowers Strikes Out Nine in 6-2 Win Over South Carolina NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jeremy Sowers pitched his first complete game of the season giving up two runs and striking out nine in helping lead #25 Vanderbilt to a 6-2 win over #6 South Carolina in front of a standing-room only crowd at Hawkins Field. The Commodores are 21-5 overall, 4-3 in the SEC, while South Carolina is 20-5, 2-5 in league play. Prior to tonight, the Commodores had lost 21 consecutive games to the Gamecocks dating back to the 1997 season. Another streak was broken when sophomore Warner Jones went 0-3 at the plate ending his consecutive season hitting streak at 32 games. Jones scored one run, drove in another, walked and struck out twice. “The bottom line is that we prepared for this game,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin said. “I talked to the guys about jumping out early and getting runs in the first, second and third innings and not exploiting the negatives.” Ryan Klosterman led off the first inning with a triple, his fifth of the season and scored on Jones’ 41st RBI of the season — a sacrifice fly to deep right center field. The Gamecocks broke the tie in the top of the fifth when Gregg scored on a Michael Campbell single to left center field with two away. Gregg reached base on a single to left field. The Commodores scored two runs in their half of the inning to take their second lead of the game, 3-2. After Antoan Richardson struck out, Jones and Cesar Nicolas both drew walks. Mike Baxter then popped up for the second out. Tony Mansolino doubled down the right field line scoring Jones and advancing Nicolas to third. Arik Hempy came in to relieve starter Billy Buckner and committed an error when he mishandled a Worth Scott hit scoring Nicolas. The Commodores added two runs in the seventh inning extending their lead to 5-2. Baxter walked before Jason Fletcher came in to pitch for the Gamecocks. Mansolino drew a walk and Baxter advanced to second. With two away, Aaron Garza singled to left field scoring Mansolino and Baxter for a three-run Vanderbilt lead. Nicolas hit his fifth home run of the season – a solo shot over the left-field wall on top of the Memorial Gym swimming pool – to end the Commodore scoring. Sowers retired the side in the ninth with Richardson making a jumping catch into the centerfield wall for the second out. “It was just a matter of not making mistakes,” Sowers said. “That team over there is the best hitting team I have faced. I got away with a couple of mistakes early in the game. You get over that as a pitcher. I wasn’t putting it where I wanted to, but then we scored those four runs in the fifth and seventh innings and that made me a little more comfortable. We got the win and it is always important to get home wins in the SEC.” Sowers improves to 5-1 giving up two earned runs on eight hits and walking two with the nine strikeouts. Billy Buckner picks up his first loss of the season (4-1) giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits. He struck out seven and walked five. The Commodores have now won eight consecutive SEC home games dating back to last season. VU won the final four SEC home games last season and the first four home games this season. The series continues tomorrow at 2 pm at Hawkins Field. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net in all markets except the state of Tennessee and other selected markets due to the Nashville Predators NHL hockey game with Saint Louis. The Vanderbilt/South Carolina baseball game will be re-aired at 9 pm CT Saturday (April 3). Dave Neal and Larry Conley call the action. |
