March 25, 2005
Gainesville, Fla. – Aaron Rawl and Jason Fletcher combined to hurl a six-hit shutout as sixth ranked South Carolina earned a 2-0 victory over 11th ranked Florida in the first of three-game SEC series. The win improves Carolina to 19-3 and 2-2 in the conference while the loss drops Florida to 17-7 and 1-3 in the SEC.
Rawl hurled seven innings and allowed no runs on five hits with a season-high nine strikeouts and only two walks allowed. The senior right-hander is now 5-2 on the year and earned his 31st career victory at Carolina. The win moves Rawl into a tie for fifth place on the USC All-Time Wins List.
Fletcher came on in relief of Rawl in the eighth inning and allowed just one hit and had three strikeouts to claim his second save of the year. Florida starter Bryan Ball took the loss and is now 5-1 on the season. Ball worked six 2/3 innings allowing two runs on seven hits with a season-high seven strikeouts and just one walk allowed.
With the game deadlocked at 0-0, Carolina broke the scoreless tie in the seventh inning. A lead-off walk to Michael Campbell and a sacrifice bunt by Brendan Winn set the stage for Tommy King. King, who played high school baseball in Florida at Apopka HS., launched a one-out double down the left field line to score Campbell and give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead. Carolina would increase its lead to two runs with a two-out RBI single to right field by Davy Gregg. King finished the evening tying a career-high with two hits on the evening. King and Gregg each had two hits apiece to lead the Gamecocks.
Florida looked to rally in the eighth inning on a walk to Gavin Dickey and a base hit by Jeff Corsaletti to put runners on the corners with no outs. With Fletcher on in relief for Rawl, the senior right-hander was able to get Adam Davis to pop out to shortstop Steven Tolleson, set down Matt LaPorta with a strikeout and allow a fly out to right field by Brian LeClerc to preserve the shutout for the Gamecocks.
The victory for Carolina was the first shutout for the Gators at home since April 16, 1999 when Kentucky defeated Florida 5-0 at McKethan Stadium. Jeff Corsaletti and Justin Tordi each had two hits on the afternoon to lead the Gators at the plate.
South Carolina and Florida continue the three-game series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for 4 p.m. Carolina will send senior RHP Zac McCamie (5-0, 2.06 ERA) to the mound with Florida countering with senior RHP Tommy Boss (3-1, 4.34 ERA). Live audio and live statistics will be available at www.uscsports.com. Tommy Moody and Tom Price will call the action on the South Carolina Radio Network.
