South Carolina 6, Michigan 5

By

Posted 8:40PM on Friday, June 3, 2005

ATLANTA (AP) Sparked by Davy Gregg's two-strike bunt, South Carolina pushed across a run in the ninth inning without getting a ball out of the infield for a 6-5 victory over Michigan in the opening round of the NCAA tournament Friday. Steve Pearce drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded single off the glove of Michigan shortstop Leif Mahler. The Wolverines (41-18) rallied in the top half of the ninth to tie the game at 5. Mahler led off with a double down the left-field line on a 1-2 pitch and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Chris Getz popped to left too short to score Mahler but Kyle Bohm came through with a two-out single to right off South Carolina closer Brent Marsh. The Gamecocks (39-21) bounced back in the bottom half off Michigan reliever Derek Feldkamp (9-5). Gregg is known for his speed and bunting, but his first attempt to lay one down flew off the roof behind home plate. With two strikes, Michigan third baseman A.J. Scheidt backed up a step or two, figuring Gregg would be hitting away. Instead, coach Ray Tanner called for another bunt. ``I noticed the third baseman sort of backing off, so I flashed it out there,'' Tanner said. ``I knew if he got it down, he would be safe. He put it in the right place.'' Gregg dropped the ball down the third-base line and easily beat Scheidt's throw to first. Michael Campbell followed with another bunt, this one to move the runner along. But Scheidt went to second with his throw, the ball arriving a split-second too late. While the Wolverines argued the call, no one bothered to cover third. Third-base coach Jim Toman noticed the oversight and began yelling at Gregg, who took the extra base without even drawing a throw. ``That was a bang-bang play at second, and it didn't go our way,'' Michigan coach Rich Maloney said. ``Our kids reacted with emotion, and understandably so. It's unfortunate, but that's what happened.'' Steven Tolleson walked to load the bases with no outs, and Pearce followed with a hard liner that slipped under Mahler's glove at shortstop while Gregg sped home with the winning run. Marsh (4-3) wound up with the win after blowing the save. South Carolina starter Aaron Rawl went 7 2-3 innings, giving up 10 hits and four runs. Jim Brauer lasted 6 1-3 innings for Michigan. He surrendered eight hits and five runs, four that were earned. South Carolina got nearly all of its production from the top of the order. The first four hitters Campbell, Tolleson, Pearce and Neil Giesler went 9-for-16 with five RBIs. Mahler had three hits for the Wolverines, while Bohm drove in a pair of runs. Michigan was making just its second NCAA appearance in 16 years, and the inexperience showed in the early innings. The Wolverines fell behind 2-0 in the first and squandered a potential run in the second when Mahler was caught in a rundown between third and home. ``We had some jitters in the early going that cost us,'' Maloney said. ``South Carolina has experienced some things we haven't experienced.'' (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)