Feb. 26, 2016

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina RHP Clarke Schmidt kept the Penn State bats in check, as the 15th-ranked Gamecocks defeated the Nittany Lions, 7-1, in non-conference baseball action Friday afternoon at Founders Park.

Third baseman Jim Haley hit his first career home run in the top of the ninth inning for the lone Penn State (2-3) run.

Schmidt (2-0) held Penn State (2-3) to just a hit and a walk over seven innings while striking out eight. Designated hitter James Coates (Girard, Ohio) tallied the lone hit off Schmidt in the top of the fifth inning, but Schmidt retired the next eight batters he faced afterwards. Haley's home run was the lone hit allowed by RHP Colie Bowers, who pitched the final two innings, as the Gamecocks limited the Lions to two hits for the game,

Designated hitter John Jones led South Carolina offensively, going 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. All nine starters tallied at least a hit each for a total of 14.

Penn State LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (0-2) quickly retired the first two batters he faced, but the third, Jones, hit a home run into the left field seats. The Gamecocks then added to their lead with three runs in the second inning. Catcher Chris Cullen doubled in a run after a leadoff walk and wild pitch, and he later scored on a single and error. Jones then recorded his second RBI with a base hit up the middle for a 4-0 lead.

Lehman worked out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning without allowing a run and also held the Gamecocks scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. He finished with a line of five innings pitched, eight hits, four runs (all earned), three walks and two strikeouts.

The Gamecocks added to their lead in the sixth inning, scoring three runs before recording an out. Leftfielder Dom Thompson-Williams hit an RBI-double and Jones followed with a two-run single.

Freshman RHP Eli Nabholz (Pottsville, Pa.) made his collegiate debut in the seventh, holding South Carolina scoreless in two innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out two.

Penn State and South Carolina will continue the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network+.