March 23, 2004
Spartanburg, S.C. – Michael Campbell hit three home runs to tie a USC single-game record and finished 5-for-5 with a career-high six RBI as fourth ranked South Carolina defeated Wofford 12-1 in front of 2,486 fans at the dedication game of Russell C. King Field in Spartanburg, S.C. Campbell became the ninth player in USC history to accomplish the feat and the first since Bryon Jeffcoat hit three in a 21-8 win at Clemson on March 3, 2001. South Carolina improves to 20-2 on the year while the loss drops Wofford to 8-8.
South Carolina starter Zac McCamie worked seven innings and allowed one run on five hits while striking out eight batters to improve his record to 2-0 on the year. Arik Hempy and Chad Blackwell worked the eighth and ninth innings respectively to close the game out for the Gamecocks. Wofford starter Chris Clark worked six innings and allowed six hits and six runs, five earned, as his record dropped to 1-1 this season.
The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Campbell knocked the first pitch from Wofford pitcher Chris Clark for his first home run to put USC on top by one run.
Carolina increased the lead to 4-0 in the third inning on back-to-back homers by Brendan Winn and Campbell. Winn’s homer was his seventh of the year as the Gamecocks went back-to-back for the sixth time this season. South Carolina has homered in 20 of 22 games this season with a total of 47 on the year. The Terriers would score one run in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit to three on a RBI double by Zach Pittman.
South Carolina scored twice more in the fifth inning to take a 6-1 lead as Hank Parks hit a two-out RBI single to score Landon Powell and Campbell. Carolina scored four more in the seventh inning highlighted by Campbell’s third homer of the game, a three-run shot and a RBI sacrifice fly by Davy Gregg. USC would score two more times in the eighth inning to complete the scoring with a RBI double from Powell. South Carolina finished with 12 hits on the night.
Powell had two hits on the day to extend his hitting streak to 18 games including his 10th of the year to move him to second on the USC All-Time Career List for doubles with 54 in his career. Wofford had five hits on the night including two from Pittman to the lead the Terriers.
South Carolina continues its road swing this weekend with a three-game set at Arkansas as the Gamecocks continue SEC play. First pitch on Friday in Fayetteville, Ark. is set for 7:35 p.m. ET.
