May 27, 2004
Hoover, Ala. – Junior right-handed pitcher Aaron Rawl went eight innings and allowed one run on four hits as seventh ranked South Carolina improved to 2-0 at the SEC Tournament with a 5-1 win over Tennessee. South Carolina is now 43-15 on the year while the loss drops Tennessee to 37-21.
The Gamecocks now have a day off and will next play on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT against the winner of the Friday game between Tennessee and Arkansas. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net South.
Rawl, who hurled a two-hit complete game shutout in his last start vs. Tennessee, only walked one batter and improved to 11-4 on the year with the win on Thursday night. Junior reliever Chad Blackwell relieved Rawl in the ninth inning with two runners on base and retired three in a row to pick up his SEC-leading 13th save of the season. Craig Cobb went seven innings and allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks to take the loss for the Vols. Cobb is now 3-4 on the year.
South Carolina went ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Kevin Melillo opened up the frame with a walk and advanced to third base on a single by Michael Campbell. On the play, Tennessee third baseman Kyle Norrid threw wild to second base in attempt to nab Campbell advancing with the ball going into the outfield and scoring Melillo from third to home. Campbell would score on a two-out RBI single by Davy Gregg.
Tennessee would cut into the Carolina lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Brian Cleveland led off with a double and scored on a RBI single from Kelly Edmundson.
South Carolina would extend the lead to three in the bottom of the frame though with three hits off Cobb. Steven Tolleson hit a one-out double and scored on Landon Powell’s two-out RBI single. Powell would score the fourth Gamecock run of the game on a RBI triple to right center from Brendan Winn. The triple for Winn was his third of the season and leads USC on the year.
USC scored its final run of the game in the eighth inning on a Tennessee error. Campbell struck out but advanced to first base on an error by Tennessee catcher Kelly Edmundson. On the throwing error, Brendan Winn scored from third to home. Tennessee finished the night with four errors.
USC outhit Tennessee 6-4 with Tolleson leading the way with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate. Powell, Winn, Campbell and Gregg contributed the rest of the Carolina hits.
