South Carolina Takes Super Regional Game One, 4-2
June 12, 2004 | Baseball
Campbell (10-4) struck out six Pirates in the first five innings. Jason Fletcher pitched 2 2/3innings allowing two earned runs before Chad Blackwell came on to record his 18th save. ECU junior right-hander Greg Bunn (10-1) started the game and pitched well striking out eight batters, but he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings. Matt Bishop tossed 1/3 of an inning and Dustin Sasser finished out the game striking out three in 2 2/3 innings.
East Carolina trailed 4-0 heading into the top of the eighth. With two outs, Ryan Jones doubled off the wall and scored on Norwood's 34th double tying the Conference USA record for doubles in a season pulling the Pirates within, 4-1. Mike Grace singled up the middle to score Norwood as ECU only trailed 4-2.
Trevor Lawhorn reached base on an error by the shortstop to lead off the top of the ninth. The Pirates brought the tying run to the plate three straight times, but Blackwell retired all three batters to end the game.
South Carolina manufactured runs to jump out to a 2-0 lead after five innings. Landon Powell's RBI single through the right side scored Bryan Triplett giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead. Michael Campbell led off the fifth inning with a double and advanced to third on Davy Gregg's sacrifice bunt. Steven Tolleson's squeeze bunt scored Campbell putting USC ahead, 2-0.
The game was then halted for four hours and 28 minutes before it resumed at 7:06 p.m. heading into the top of the sixth.
Steven Pearce extended the Gamecock lead to 3-0 when he led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run. Powell made it 4-0 when he scored on single by Michael Campbell.
Michael Campbell finished the game 2-for-3 for the Gamecocks. ECU and South Carolina will resume the series Sunday at 12 p.m. The Pirates will serve as the home team. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN with regional coverage in North Carolina and South Carolina.
