COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Mason Zandi was grateful his South Carolina teammates dug when it wouldve been easy to give in. The result has the Gamecocks back in the postseason after missing out last season.The Gamecocks (6-5) won for the fourth time in the past five games to become bowl eligible with a 44-31 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday night. Zandi always believed, even with his team at 2-4 and facing several big challenges, South Carolina would succeed.We came together as a team. Nobody points fingers at each other. Nobody says, `Oh, woe is me, Zandi, the left tackle, said. Im incredibly proud to play next to these people.And Zandi, a fifth-year senior, will have one additional game to savor.Deebo Samuel scored three touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, while Rico Dowdle ran for 226 yards and two scores in South Carolinas win.Samuel, the sophomore receiver, made his mark in the running game with a pair of 2-yard TD runs and with his dazzling return on a first-quarter kickoff as the Gamecocks (6-5) doubled their win total from a year ago.This is a huge relief for us, Zandi said. Its even bigger for the program moving forward.The Catamounts (2-9) of the FCS Southern Conference kept denting the Gamecocks defense and were within 41-31 after Detrez Newsomes 93-yard kickoff return touchdown with 9:13 to go.But South Carolina was able to hold on and avoid the embarrassment of a second straight FCS defeat after falling to Citadel 23-22 in their 3-9 season last fall.At the end of the day, we needed to get to a bowl game, first-year South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said . It was really important with where we were after our first games.Freshman tailback Dowdle had a 43-yard touchdown run on South Carolinas opening series, then a 1-yard TD rush on the teams next series. He has rushed for over 100 yards in three of the past four games.Dowdles total yards were the most since Gamecocks great Marcus Lattimore gained 246 in a win over Navy in 2011.A.J. Turner added 97 yards rushing for South Carolina, which ran for 422 yards, its highest total since gaining 352 yards rushing against Coastal Carolina in 2013.Western Carolina fell to 0-52 against Football Bowl Subdivision teams and 0-19 all-time against Southeastern Conference opponents.THE TAKEAWAYDespite an early flourish, Western Carolina was overrun by its quicker, stronger FBS opponent. But the FCS school, which received $400,000 to come to South Carolina, has several FBS teams on upcoming schedules. Next year, the Catamounts play Hawaii and North Carolina. In 2018, its the Tar Heels again before facing North Carolina State in 2019.South Carolina is still getting its feet wet under new coach Will Muschamp. Where more advanced SEC teams mightve run from the Catamounts at the start, the young Gamecocks needed some time to get going before securing the win. Thats a big reason the coach wanted his team to qualify for the bowl -- the extra weeks of prep, planning, film study and practice the postseason gives his building program.FCS BACKERWestern Carolina coach Mark Speir said he hears all the time that SEC teams should not take on FCS teams like the Catamounts. This was a great game, said Speir, whose team scored more points on the Gamecocks than any other this season. I think the fans had a great time. Thirty-three of our players got a scholarship to come to Western Carolina because South Carolina gave us the opportunity to come down here and play.SAMUELS SWEEPReceiver Deebo Samuel has been an effective scorer for South Carolina near the goal line. He had two touchdowns near the goal line, running a patented jet-sweep play. That jet sweep has been money for us, Samuel said, smiling.How long did it take Muschamp and the offensive staff to know Samuel could be effective in the red zone? After about the third day of spring practice, Muschamp said.UP NEXTWestern Carolinas season is finished.South Carolina plays at Clemson on Saturday, trying to end a two-game losing streak to its rival.Cheap Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Static . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Cheap Black Yeezy Boost 350 . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. http://www.cheapyeezy350sale.com/ .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Yeezy Boost 350 Black Cheap . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Yeezy 350 Sale Online . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team.LOS ANGELES -- The maturation of Julio Urias is coming along quickly for the Los Angeles Dodgers.The 20-year-old rookie from Mexico allowed one run over six innings, Corey Seager set a Dodgers franchise record for a shortstop with his 23rd home run and Los Angeles defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Saturday to even the series between NL division leaders.Urias (5-2) pitched better at home than the last time he faced the Cubs. The left-hander made his second career start in Chicago on June 2 and gave up six runs -- five earned -- and eight hits in five innings while serving up three homers.This time, he allowed six hits and tied a career high with eight strikeouts and two walks. He is 4-0 in six games (four starts) since the All-Star break.He kept getting stronger and executing better, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Theres a quiet confidence. Hes being more aggressive. Early on, he was trying to understand the major league strike zone. He can trust his stuff and be more aggressive in the strike zone.The defense backed Urias with two double plays.It gives me a lot of confidence, he said through a translator. A couple starts ago I started picking up my confidence. In the beginning I felt strange. Now I feel like I belong here and thats the biggest difference.Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 38th save a day after allowing a run on a wild pitch in the ninth in a 6-4, 10-inning loss.I didnt have a lot of hours of sleep last night, letting my teammates down, Jansen said. I got to figure out how to be aggressive all the time out there.The Cubs four-game winning streak ended behind the shortest outing of the season from Jason Hammel (13-7). He gave up three runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings.Jason wasnt happy when I took him out. He didnt want to go, but I didnt see things straightening out, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Im not concerned about him and its not a lack of confidence in him.Hammel was coming off a poor performance against Colorado, allowing a season-high 10 runs (six earned) in 3 1/3 innings of an 11-4 loss. He remained winless in nine career games (six starts) at Dodger Stadium.Joe and I talked after the game about it but its not a topic for discussion in the newspapers, Hammel said. Theres nothing wrong with me mechanically. Im fine.The Cubs rally in the seventh came up short. They got to 3-2 on pinch-hitter Jason Heywards RBI single off reliever Pedro Baez.Heyward got caught stealing, and Baez walked Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant before getting Anthony Rizzo on an inning-ending grounder.Los Angeles took a 3-1 lead in the third on RBI singles by Chase Utley and Justin Turneer.ddddddddddddUtleys hit was the third straight given up by Hammel to start the inning.Seager tied the game at 1 in the first, giving him the most homers by a Dodgers shortstop in franchise single-season history. He broke the old mark of 22 set by Glenn Wright in 1930.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: RHP John Lackey (right shoulder strain) will throw a bullpen session on Monday in Chicago.Dodgers: OF Scott Van Slyke wont play again this season. Hes on the DL with right wrist irritation after being out nearly two months earlier in the season with low back irritation. He doesnt have the range of motion he needs to contribute, manager Dave Roberts said. ... LHP Clayton Kershaw (mild disc irritation) will face hitters in a simulated game on Tuesday in Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga or Arizona.ALMOST HOME ADVANTAGEChicago fans are making the Cubs feel almost like home at Dodger Stadium. They chanted MVP, MVP after Kris Bryants game-winning home run in the 10th inning Friday. They cheered when Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully rattled off statistics about the Cubs impressive August performance during a preview of Saturdays game shown on the videoboard. The team has seen similar partisan crowds around the country this season.Theyve been so loud that if we turned our backs to the crowd, Maddon said, we couldnt tell if it was a home game or an away game.HEARING VINCubs fans in Chicago will get a brief chance to hear Scully wax poetic on Sunday. Comcast SportsNet Chicago will carry the live audio of Scullys broadcast during the third inning of the series finale. The 88-year-old Hall of Fame announcer is retiring at seasons end after 67 years in the booth for the Dodgers.The people in Chicago are in for a treat, Maddon said. After we get done with our games, I watch the Dodgers and listen to Vin on my iPad. Hes one of the great ones, like Red Barber, Dick Enberg and Ernie Harwell. Hes transcended the memories of baseball.AT THE TURNSTILESThe announced attendance of 49,522 pushed the Dodgers over the 3 million mark for the fifth consecutive year and made them the first team in the majors to top that number this season.UP NEXTCubs: LHP Jon Lester (14-4, 2.81 ERA) is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in two career starts at Dodger Stadium. The team is 7-0 in his last seven starts.Dodgers: RHP Brock Stewart (0-2, 11.25) makes his third career major league start after being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. He last pitched on Aug. 19 against Albuquerque, allowing four hits in five scoreless innings. ' ' '