#7 Gamecocks Oust Bama In 11th, 9-7

Second chance a hit for Thomas
After failing to come through earlier in the clutch, catcher knocks game-winning homer

Written by CHRIS DEARING
Special to The State

Posted on 04.30.10

Brady Thomas pinch-hit for Kyle Enders in the ninth inning and failed to get a sacrifice bunt down to advance a runner in a tie game.

Given a second chance in the 11th, the senior from Anderson delivered a walk-off, two-run home run, and No. 7 South Carolina escaped with a 9-7 victory against Alabama in front of 8,145 fans Friday night at Carolina Stadium.

"I had a blunder out there with that bunt, and I was hoping to do something positive," Thomas said. "You always want to be that last guy up there to get the chance to win the game. Fortunately, I was able to go up there and get a good swing."

Thomas drilled the 3-2 pitch from Alabama reliever Nathan Kilcrease over the South Carolina bullpen in right-center-field. Thomas pulled a hanging slider into the alley.

Kilcrease came into the game leading the SEC with a 1.44 ERA. It was his second loss of the season, with the other setback coming in a 6-5 loss to LSU in 14 innings in which he also allowed a walk-off home run.

South Carolina (33-8, 15-4) was one out from winning in the ninth when the Crimson Tide (27-16, 8-11) got a three-run home run from Josh Rutledge.

He lifted Matt Price's pitch just over the wall in right field to force extra innings.

Jackie Bradley allowed USC to get to the 10th inning when he threw out Ross Wilson at third to end the ninth.

Bradley also had a key play in the eighth that possibly saved a run. He went deep in the gap in right-center to haul down a fly ball by Jon Kelton and swiftly threw back to first to double off Clay Jones. Jones thought for certain the ball was going to fall into the gap, but Bradley was able to get a solid jump.

Key defensive plays were a theme for USC. In the fifth inning, second baseman Scott Wingo went behind the bag to knock down a ball by David Kinard and he came up throwing to the plate to nail Rutledge, who was trying to score from second, for the final out.

Bradley found his power as well. He supplied a three-run triple in the second and a solo home run in the fourth. He finished 3-for-5 and was a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

The defense was needed to back the pitching of Blake Cooper. The senior right-hander allowed a season-high 11 hits and tied his season high by allowing four runs.

Cooper didn't have his best stuff, but he lasted 6 1/3 innings and didn't factor in the decision.

It was the first time he didn't earn the win on a Friday night since his first SEC game against Tennessee seven weeks ago.