March 5, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – Fifth ranked South Carolina erased an early three-run deficit with nine unanswered runs and held on to defeat Minnesota 13-6 on Saturday evening at the 2005 Dairy Queen Classic. The Gamecocks belted out 18 hits including four from junior shortstop Steven Tolleson, tying his career-high and three from junior second baseman Chris Brown. Michael Campbell also added his third home run and Tommy King hit his first of the season as Carolina improved to 11-1 on the year and 1-1 at the Dairy Queen Classic. With the loss Minnesota drops to 1-4 on the season.
Carolina starter Zac McCamie worked a season-high seven innings to earn the win and improve to 4-0 on the year. McCamie allowed just three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts, also a season-high. The senior from Orlando, Fla. retired the last nine batters he faced and did not allow a hit in his last four innings of work. Minnesota starter Josh Krogman was charged with the loss and lasted only three innings allowing five runs on seven hits.
The Gophers got to McCamie early with all three of their runs in the first inning. Jake Elder put Minnesota ahead 1-0 in the first inning with a RBI double to right field scoring Luke MacLean and Andy Hunter followed with a RBI double of his own to score Elder and Mike Mee giving the Golden Gophers a three-run cushion.
Carolina knotted the game at 3-3 with three runs of their own in the second inning. Brendan Winn led off with a single and advanced to third on a double from Michael Campbell. Gamecock catcher Cory Vanderhook knocked in the first run with a RBI groundout to first base to score Winn. USC would get its second run of the game on a triple from Neil Giesler. Giesler’s triple was a high fly ball to deep left center that was lost in the lights by center fielder Tony Leseman. Giesler would score the tying run on a bunt single by Steven Tolleson.
The Gamecocks took the lead in the third inning as Michael Campbell hit a two-run homer over the monster wall in right field to give USC a two-run edge. Carolina’s offense continued in the fourth inning with two more runs and increased the lead to 7-3. Chris Brown knocked a RBI double and Jon Willard added a RBI single. Willard’s RBI single extended his hitting streak to nine games. Brown would do more damage in the fifth inning as his two-out RBI singled scored Davy Gregg and put the Gamecocks up five runs.
USC would add a run in the eighth inning and four more in the ninth inning highlighted by King’s three-run homer in the ninth inning. Minnesota scored three more times with a run in the eighth and two in the ninth inning.
Steve Pearce, Willard, Campbell and Gregg all had two hits for the Gamecocks. Pearce now has a 10-game hitting streak dating back to last season. The 18 hit total for USC was the third highest of the season. Mike Mee led the Gophers with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with two runs scored.
South Carolina plays its final game of the Dairy Queen Classic on Sunday morning at 11 am CT when the Gamecocks meet New Orleans. Live audio broadcast with Tommy Moody and Tom Price will be available at USCSPORTS.COM.
