Destino, Reagan deliver in the clutch as Gamecocks sweep Vols
Thanks to the heroics of a guy who hadn’t stepped into the batter’s box in eight days and the fearlessness of its closer, South Carolina led for all of four outs on Sunday and somehow won a game in dramatic ‘how did they do that?’ fashion.
For Chad Holbrook and his Gamecock players, Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Tennessee did more than just secure a sweep over the Vols.
It was a test of character, and USC passed with flying colors, improving to 28-5 overall, 10-2 in the SEC by sweeping their third conferences series in the first four weekends.
The unlikely scenario began to unfold in the bottom of the eighth inning when Alex Destino, sidelined since crashing into the left field fence making a sensational catch at Vanderbilt, made Tennessee pay a heavy price for issuing a two-out walk when he dropped a RBI single into left field to score Dom Thompson-Williams from second base with the eventual game-winning run.
“I came through with a hit and I couldn’t be more excited for the team,” Destino said. “I was real relaxed for the scenario I was in. He threw me a 3-2 slider and I was able to slap it into left. I took some good BP yesterday and today. Right now, it’s about getting my arm back on track and the mechanics of my throwing.”
The craziness was only getting started.
In the top of the ninth, Gamecock closer Josh Reagan replaced Tyler Johnson on the mound after the Vols’ leadoff hitter singled. Two bunts loaded the bases and brought Nick Senzel, one of the SEC’s top hitters, to the plate.
Holbrook played the middle infield back, hoping for a double play and, by his own admission, minimizing the damage to a single run.
Reagan and Senzel battled to a full count, meaning one more ball and the tying run would have strolled home. At that point Reagan did the unexpected, throwing a changeup instead of a fastball and Senzel topped a roller to the left of the pitching mound.
“For Reagan to have the courage to throw a 3-2 changeup with nobody out, the bases loaded and the best hitter in the country (at the plate), I’ve coached for a long time and I’ve never had a guy be able to do that. Maybe (Michael) Roth could do it. I’m at a loss of words for the courage to do that.
“That’s the only way we win the game, for him to throw his best pitch in a count and situation when he couldn’t throw a ball to the best hitter in the country. You’ve got to have players with courage to win games like that. Fortunately, I have a few that have tons of courage.”
Reagan pounced of the mound, grabbed the ball, quickly whirled and fired a bullet to catcher Chris Cullen for the first out at home.
Reagan then fanned cleanup hitter Vincent Jackson, who had already collected two hits on the day, for the second out before a popup to second melted away the tension in the ballpark.
“Josh threw some terrific pitches to the meat of their lineup with the bases loaded and nobody out,” Holbrook said. “We could replay that scenario 100 times with the bases loaded, no body out and Nick Senzel coming to the plate. They would probably score at least one run 99 times. But Josh made some great pitches and got some really good hitters out with the game on the line.”
Reagan’s great escape was reminiscent of the 2011 College World Series when Florida had the bases-loaded with no outs in the ninth of Game 1 of the national championship series and failed to score.
USC, now 22-1 at home this season, is guaranteed of waking up Monday morning in first place in the SEC East. Florida lost to Miss. State, 10-4, Saturday in Gainesville to fall to 9-3 in the conference.
Gamecock starter Adam Hill struggled with his control early, hitting a Tennessee batter in each of the first four innings. But the Vols couldn’t take advantage except for a second inning run on a RBI single.
Meanwhile, he Gamecocks had little success against Tennessee starter Andy Cox in the first four innings, amassing just two singles and a walk. Cox retired nine Gamecock batters in a row from the first to the fourth innings.
The Gamecocks’ first key hit of the game came in the bottom of the fifth when Marcus Mooney drilled a two-run double into the left field corner. TJ Hopkins scored all the way from first on the extra base hit. Mooney’s extra-base hit evened the score at 2-2.
The back-and-forth scoring continued into the sixth inning when Tennessee first scored on a sacrifice fly to take a 3-2 lead. But the Gamecocks responded in the bottom half of the inning when John Jones snapped out of a slump by doubling to left-center, advanced to third on a single and scored on a RBI groundout by Madison Stokes.
Tyler Johnson pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win of the year. He is 1-1 for the season. Reagan's scoreless ninth gave him his 10th save of the season.
LINESCORE
TEN (18-14): 010 011 000 = 3-10-0
USC (28-5): 000 021 01x = 4-7-0
WP – Tyler Johnson (1-1)
LP – Steven Kane (0-3)
SV – Josh Reagan (10)
HR – None
RBI – Marcus Mooney (2), Madison Stokes (1), Alex Destino (1).
LOB – USC 7, TEN 11
A – 7,314
Time – 3:17
Gamecock Pitchers: Adam Hill (5.1, 78 pitches), Matt Vogel (0.1, 19 pitches), Reed Scott (0.1, 5 pitches), Tyler Johnson (2.0, 28 pitches), Josh Reagan (1.0, 19 pitches).
HOW THE RUNS SCORED:
TEN 2nd –Jackson singled to left, Rodgers popped to first, Jackson advanced to second on wild pitch, Schultz hit by pitch, Pruett singled to right (RBI), Pruett stole second, Bartlett struck out, Lance walked, Santiago grounded to shortstop. ONE RUN, TWO HITS (TEN 1-0).
TEN 5th – Lance grounded to second, Santiago singled to right, Hall singled to center field, Senzel reached on fielder's choice (5-4)(Run scored + RBI), Senzel picked off (1-3-6). ONE RUN, TWO HITS
USC 5th – Stokes singled to left-center, Hopkins walked, Taylor fouled out to catcher, Mooney doubled down left field line (2 RBI), Cone flied to left, Tolbert struckout. TWO RUNS, TWO HITS (TIED 2-2).
TEN 6th – Jackson doubled to left, Rodgers flied to center, Jackson advanced to third on wild pitch, <Vogel for Hill>, Schultz hit sacrifice fly to left (RBI), Pruett walked, Bartlett singled to short, Lance walked, <Scott for Vogel>, Santiago popped to short. ONE RUN, TWO OUTS (TEN 3-2).
USC 6th - Jones doubled to left-center, Bride singled to center, DTW struckout, Stokes grounded to third (RBI), Bride advanced to third on wild pitch, Hopkins struckout. ONE RUN, TWO HITS (TIED 3-3).
USC 8th - Jones grounded to catcher, Bride walked , DTW reached on fielder's choice (6-4), Arendas walked, Destino (PH) singled to left (RBI), Cullen fouled to catcher. ONE RUN, ONE HIT (USC 4-3).
