March 19, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – Louisiana State scored three 11th inning runs on a hit batter and four singles Friday night to knock South Carolina from the unbeaten list in a battle of Southeastern Conference baseball Titans.
The Tigers, ranked first in one national poll and fourth in another, improved to 17-2 overall in the opener of the first conference series for both teams. South Carolina suffered its first defeat to break an 18 game winning streak. The Gamecocks are ranked third by Baseball America and fourth by Collegiate Baseball.
The second game of the three game weekend series is scheduled for 4 p.m., Saturday at Sarge Frye Field.
Greg Smith, 1-0, who worked two innings of relief, earned the win. Chad Blackwell, 1-1, was charged with the loss.
Jon Zeringue was hit by a pitch to open the top of the 11th inning. He moved to second base on a wild pitch. Clay Harris struck out but Ivan Naccarata singled up the middle to drive in Zeringue and break a 3-3 tie. Matt Horwath popped to the mound for the second out, but J. C. Holt singled and Ryan Patterson followed with a hit to drive in Naccarata. Zac McCamie replaced Blackwell and gave up an RBI single to Blake Gill before retiring the side.
Steven Reinhold walked with one out in the bottom of the 11th but Smith struck out pinch hitter Hank Parks and Steven Tolleson to end the game.
South Carolina took a 1-0 lead with a first inning run. Tolleson was hit by a pitch, took second on the first of four hits by Landon Powell on his 22nd birthday, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield hit by Brendan Winn. Powell extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
South Carolina starter Billy Buckner retired the first 14 LSU batters but Zeringue hit his fourth home run of the season to tie the score at 1-1. LSU added single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to lead 3-1. Matt Horwath led off the sixth with a double, was sacrificed to third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Patterson. Horwath singled in the eighth, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a base hit by Patterson.
In the bottom of the eighth Powell singled for his third hit and scored ahead of the fifth home run of the season by Winn, who drove in all three Gamecock runs. Powell’s four hits included a pair of doubles and he accounted for half the eight hit South Carolina total. Winn had two and the other Gamecock hits were by Tolleson and Davy Gregg who beat out a bunt.
Patterson, Gill, Harris and Horwath each had two of 12 hits by LSU. Patterson drove in three runs.
Three LSU pitchers struck out 12 South Carolina batters, walked four and hit two in 11 innings. Four South Carolina pitchers struck out 11, walked two and also hit to batters.
