March 13, 2002
COLUMBIA, SC –
Five pitchers combined to limit Davidson to one infield hit Wednesday night and fourth ranked South Carolina scored all its runs in the first three innings to rout Davidson 15-0 in a non-conference baseball game.
Coach ray Tanner specified beforehand he would use at least three pitchers so starter Tony Adler, 2-0, was credited with the win although he worked only 3 1/3 innings. Davidson used eight pitchers with starter Andy Demko, 0-1, charged with the loss. South Carolina won its seventh straight and improved to 16-2. Davidson dropped to 7-10.
Seven hits and three Davidson errors staked South Carolina to a 7-0 first inning lead. Drew Meyer, Garris Gonce and Jon Coutlangus had doubles in the inning. Steve Thomas hit his second home run of the season in the second inning and the Gamecocks added seven runs in the third to lead 15-0.
South Carolina had seven hits in the third inning with the big blow being a three run homer by Landon Powell, his fourth of the season.
Davidson’s only hit was an infield single to deep shortstop with two out in the fourth inning. Drew Meyer backhanded the ball on his knees deep in the holeh but his hurried throw was unable to nip Billy Ryan at first base. Davidson managed only two other base runners. Kenny Devenney was hit by a pitch in the third inning and Ryan drew a base on balls in the seventh.
Thomas and Brian Buscher had three hits apiece in a 17 hit South Carolina attack. Thomas had a double in addition to his homer and drove in three runs. One of Buscher’s hits was a double. Meyer, Gonce, Trey Dyson and Powell each had two hits. The only South Carolina starter without a hit was Yaron Peters but he tied a school record with two sacrifice flies to increase his Southeastern Conference RBI total to 34 in 18 games.
Gonce drove in two runs and Dyson one to boost their totals to 24 apiece.
South Carolina travels to Starkville, Miss., to open the 30 game Southeastern Conference schedule with a three game series beginning Friday night against Mississippi State.
DAVIDSON 000 000 000 – 0-1-3
SOUTH CAROLINA 717 000 00x – 15-17-0
Demko, Case (2), Hood (4),Choate (6), Adkin (7), Wells (8), Frend (8), Carter (8) and Marino. Adler, Evans (4), Wilson (7), Hernandez (8), Rawl (9) and Powell, Greenwood (6). W-Adler (2-0). L-Demko (0-1). Save-None. 2B-USC, Myer, Thomas, Gonce, Buscher, Coutlangus. HR-USC, Thomas (2), Powell (4).
