McCamie Pitches South Carolina Past Alabama, 5-2
4/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The No. 15 University of Alabama baseball team couldn't come up with another come-from-behind victory while the South Carolina Gamecocks (30-11) got to the Crimson Tide early pounding out 10 hits and scoring four runs in the first four innings to take the series finale 5-2 Sunday afternoon.
Alabama (29-13, 11-7 SEC) was no-hit through 5 1/3 innings by Carolina starter and winning pitcher Zac McCamie (8-2), who in seven innings of play struck out six while allowing six hits and two runs.
In his first career start for the Tide, Jordan Davis (2-3) got the loss, allowing nine hits and four runs in three and two-thirds innings.
Carolina (30-11, 10-8 SEC) got on the board first for the third consecutive time this weekend, this time in the top of the first off an RBI single by catcher Ryan Mahoney.
The Gamecocks would add two more in the top of the third, the first of which off a solo home run by shortstop Steven Tolleson. Mahoney got his second RBI of the game when he grounded out, driving in left fielder Michael Campbell.
A triple by Campbell in the top of the fourth would give Carolina its fourth run in a many innings, putting the Tide in a 4-0 hole.
The Crimson Tide made a run in the sixth inning as designated hitter Allen Rice broke up McCamie's no hitter with a single, which would be the Tide senior's 200th career hit. Gabe Scott followed with a base hit and after an Evan Bush pop out, senior right fielder Morrow Thomley's bloop double into left field score Rice with the first run of the game.
After Zac Welch walked to load the bases, catcher Kody Valverde fouled out to the first baseman to end the threat.
A sacrifice fly by Emeel Salem in the bottom of the seventh would give the Tide its second run of the game, reducing the Gamecocks' lead to two runs.
Carolina put the last run of the game on the board in the top of the seventh when third baseman Joey Friddle hit an RBI single to make the score 5-2.
Alabama put two runners on base in the eighth with no outs as Scott singled and Bush walked, but Carolina relief ace Brent Marsh came in a squashed the rally as he retired all six batters he faced for his eighth save of the year. Marsh has appeared in a team-high 18 games this season for USC and has not allowed a run in 15 of those appearances.
The Crimson Tide is back in action Wednesday, April 27 as they host South Alabama here at Sewell-Thomas Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Alabama returns to SEC action next weekend as they host the Georgia in three-game SEC series, beginning Friday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
*No. 15 Alabama took two of three from No. 8 South Carolina despite losing 5-2 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
*Alabama wrapped up a four-week stretch where they played four Top 10 teams. The Crimson Tide took two of three from No. 4 LSU (April 1-3), No. 9 Ole Miss (April 8-10) and No. 8 South Carolina (April 22-24). Bama dropped two games to No. 5 Florida (April 15-17).
*Alabama posted a 7-5 record against those four Top 10 teams. Overall, Alabama is 8-7 against ranked teams this season. The Crimson Tide played five of its first six SEC series against Top 25 teams.
*Following the South Carolina series, Alabama (29-13, 11-7 SEC) has as many wins this season as it did all of last year. The Crimson Tide's 11 SEC wins are one more than the team had in league play a year ago.
*Alabama maintains its lead in the SEC Western Division and moved into second place in the overall standings this weekend as No. 16 Tennessee dropped two games at Vanderbilt. Alabama and Tennessee do not play this season. Alabama owns a one game lead over LSU (10-8) and has a 1 1/2 game lead over Miss. State (9-8). The Crimson Tide has a two-game lead over Ole Miss (9-9) and a three-game lead over Auburn (8-10) and Arkansas (8-10).
*South Carolina RHP Zac McCamie pitched 5 1/3 no-hit innings in the win over Alabama on Sunday. Senior DH Allen Rice broke up the no-no with a one-out single in the sixth inning. McCamie allowed two runs and six hits in seven-plus innings for his eighth win of the year. He walked four and struck out six.
*Rice (1-for-4) broke up McCamie's no-hitter with a one-out single in the sixth inning. The base hit was Rice's 200th career hit at Alabama.
*Alabama junior RHP Jordan Davis made his first career start today for the Crimson Tide. He became the seventh different Sunday starting pitcher for Alabama this season. Davis struggled in his first career start as he allowed four runs and 10 hits in just 3 2/3 innings. He also added six strikeouts before exiting the game after a two-out single to Steven Tolleson in the fourth inning.
*Senior left-hander Brent Carter made his fifth appearance of the season out the bullpen in the loss to South Carolina. Carter worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed two hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
*Carter became just the second pitcher in Alabama history to record 300 career innings pitched. Carter has 301 career innings and joins Lance Cormier (1999-2002) as the only two UA pitchers with 300 innings. Cormier holds the UA career record with 381 innings pitched.
*Carter also made his 66th appearance on the mound to tie Jarrod Kingrey (1997-98) for sixth place on the school's all-time list.
*With two strikeouts against South Carolina, Carter now has 278 in his Alabama career. He is 11 strikeouts shy of the all-time record (289) held by Cormier.
*Freshman shortstop Cale Iorg (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to a season-best nine games with a leadoff single in the seventh inning.
