Gamecocks' Justin Smoak Has Career Day With 5 Hits, 5 RBI

Feb. 26, 2006

For Immediate Release

Columbia, S.C. - Freshman first baseman Justin Smoak had five hits, scored five times and drove in five runs as South Carolina completed a suspended game from Saturday with a 6-3 win Sunday and followed with a 12-4 win over Duquesne.

The two victories completed a sweep of the three game college baseball series and improved South Carolina's season record to 8-1. Duquesne dropped to 0-3.

The suspended game was halted after four innings due to rain Saturday with Duquesne holding a 1-0 lead. The final five innings were completed before the start of the scheduled Sunday game. South Carolina scored four fifth inning runs to gain the lead and added two in the eighth for the 6-3 first game victory.

Robbie Grinestaff hit a three run homer, his fourth of the season, to drive in three first game runs. Smoak singled in his final two first game at bats and followed with a perfect showing in five second game plate appearances, reaching base seven consecutive times. He doubled, driving in three runs, in his first two appearances, and followed with his first career home run, a two run shot. He walked his final two appearances.

Andy Lambert (2-0) pitched two innings of relief in the first game to receive credit for the win. Shawn Valdes-Fauli pitched the ninth to earn his third save. Forrest Beverly worked the first five innings of the second game to improve his record to 3-0.Bob Hartle (0-1) and Jeremy Gerger (0-1) were the losing pitchers for Duquesne.

Photo Courtesy of the University of South Carolina