Montgomery shines as Gamecocks beat Campbell
By Rixon Lane
Even though they were hosting a regional for the fourth consecutive season, the Gamecocks weren’t taking any chances on Friday night.
South Carolina turned to ace Jordan Montgomery and the junior turned in a sparkling performance, allowing two runs in 8+ innings of work as the Gamecocks defeated fourth-seeded Campbell 5-2 on the first day of the Columbia Regional. The win was South Carolina’s 28th consecutive postseason victory at home.
After scuffling offensively in the SEC tournament, the Gamecocks jumped on Campbell starter Heath Bowers in the first inning. A Kyle Martin bases-loaded single through the right side of the infield plated two runs. A sacrifice fly by D.C. Arendas made it 3-0 Gamecocks after one inning.
That was all the run support that Montgomery needed. In his fifth career start in the NCAA tournament, the junior turned in one of his finest outings. After surrendering a solo homer in the fourth inning (which broke his streak of 27.2 consecutive scoreless innings in the NCAA tournament), Montgomery retired the next 10 batters he faced.
South Carolina scored a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning when Marcus Mooney lifted a two-out, two-strike single into right field. Mooney finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs on the evening. Max Schrock also tallied three hits, while Gene Cone went 2-for-3 with a walk.
After allowing a single to open the ninth inning, Montgomery was lifted for closer Joel Seddon. The Camels pushed across a run to cut South Carolina’s lead to 5-2, but Seddon struck out the final two batters of the night to clinch the win for the Gamecocks.
Montgomery has allowed just four earned runs in 38.2 career innings in the NCAA tournament.
The Gamecocks have now won 17 consecutive postseason games at Carolina Stadium. South Carolina will face Maryland tomorrow night at 7 p.m.