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. Nike Presto Off White Fake Kaufen . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Nike Air Force 1 Herren Deutschland . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. http://www.airforce1gunstig.de/air-presto-deutschland.html . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Air Force 1 Damen Sale . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Günstige Nike Air Force 1 . LUCIE, Fla. TORONTO -- Hyun Soo Kim said hed never hit a bigger home run.His timely drive gave Baltimores wild-card hopes a big boost.Kim hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Roberto Osuna, and the Orioles beat Toronto 3-2 on Wednesday night to move within one game of the AL wild card-leading Blue Jays.Its hard to describe, Kim said through a translator. Its just such a great feeling.With Toronto ahead 2-1, Jonathan Schoop singled with one out, pinch-runner Michael Bourn stole second and Kim homered on a 3-2 pitch into the visiting bullpen in right, causing the Orioles relievers to jump in celebration.Everyone in the dugout was going nuts, slugger Mark Trumbo said.Kim is 6 for 9 with two walks as a pinch hitter.Were lucky to have a guy hitting .300 come off the bench, manager Buck Showalter said. We felt like hed give us a good at bat.Baltimore right-hander Chris Tillman said the dramatic victory could provide the Orioles with some much-needed momentumI think that could push a team a long way, those kind of wins, Tillman said. It was a big team win and everybody played a part in it.Osuna (3-3) has five blown save chances, including two in his last three appearances.I feel good, Im not worried at all, he said. My fastball just stayed down the middle, and he took advantage of it.Trumbo hit his major league-leading 46th home run, a solo drive off Jason Grilli in the eighth. Sacrifice flies by Edwin Encarnacion in the first and Kevin Pillar in the second had built a 2-0 lead.I thought Trums home run kind of got some positive vibes back in the game, Showalter said.Brian Duensing (1-0) got one out, and Zach Britton finished for his 47th save in as many tries.Zach came in there and didnt let the momentum get away from us, Showalter said.Blue Jays left-hander Francisco Liriano struck out 10 over six shutout innnings.dddddddddddd Toronto starters have allowed one earned run or none in a team record seven straight games.Liriano was perfect until Adam Jones singled to begin the fourth. Davis followed with a single by Liriano struck out the next three batters. Baltimore loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth but Davis took a called third strike.Liriano left to a standing ovation after Jonathan Schoops single put runners at first and second in the seventh. Brett Cecil came on and struck out Nolan Reimold before Troy Tulowitzki went deep into the hole to shortstop hole to retire Jones on a groundout.Tillman allowed two runs -- one earned -- and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He has a 2-6 with a 7.01 ERA in 13 career starts in Toronto.My fastball command wasnt there again, Tillman said, but we were able to make some big pitches with the offspeed stuff and limit the damage.LOSING IT LATEToronto has blown a lead in the ninth inning three times in four games, losing twice in that span.PUT A LID ON ITThe stadium roof, which was partially open when the game began, slid shut in the second inning because of an expected thunderstorm.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (left shoulder) did not start for the second straight game. Travis jammed his surgically repaired shoulder in Mondays benches-clearing brawl with New York. Ryan Goins started at second.UP NEXTRHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-12, 5.71) starts for the Orioles in Thursdays series finale, with RHP Marcus Stroman (9-9, 4.34) set to pitch for the Blue Jays. Stroman is 0-4 in seven starts since beating Houston on Aug. 14 but has allowed more than three earned runs just once in that span. Jimenez is 1/3 with an 8.41 ERA in six career games in Toronto. ' ' '