April 26, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina junior LHP Matt Campbell has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week following his performance on Sunday vs. Alabama. Campbell improved to 6-2 on the year with a three-hit shutout, the first of his career, as Carolina defeated the Crimson Tide 1-0 in 10 innings. It was the longest outing by an SEC pitcher this season and Campbell’s second career complete game.
Campbell struck out 10, and walked two batters while allowing just three hits. He gave up singles in the first inning to Even Bush, in the fourth to Allen Rice, and in the sixth to Gabe Scott. He retired 10 consecutive Crimson Tide batters from the sixth inning until Michael McCallister reached on an error leading off the 10th inning. Campbell retired the next three in order. Campbell also did not allow a runner past second base in the entire game.
This is the first time this season Campbell has earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors and the fourth time in his career. The last time Campbell earned the award was in May 2003 after striking out a career-high 13 batters in a 5-3 win vs. Georgia. Campbell also earned the honor last season after earning a 5-1 wn at Alabama to sweep a three-game series. Campbell allowed just four hits in that game and retired 14 consecutive batters.
The win for Campbell was the first complete game shutout for a South Carolina pitcher since Chris Hernandez defeated East Carolina May 10, 2003 in the NCAA Regional Tournament at Atlanta. It was the second career complete game for Campbell, a junior left-hander who improved his season record to 6-2. Campbell struck out 10 and walked two batters before a Sarge Frye Field crowd of 3,915.
South Carolina (29-11) is ranked No. 7 in the ESPN/Sports Weekly coaches poll, No. 8 by Baseball America and No. 22 by Collegiate Baseball this week. The Gamecocks continue their homestand on Wednesday, April 28 hosting Wofford (15-20) at Sarge Frye Field with first pitch set for 7 p.m. South Carolina continues SEC action this weekend hosting Ole Miss in a three-game series beginning Friday night at 7 p.m.
SOUTH CAROLINA NOTEBOOK
Record: 29-11, 9-9(Southeastern Conference) (7-5 vs. rank Top 25)
23-5 home games … 0-0 neutral site … 6-6 on the road
Last Week: 3-1
Wednesday – 4/21 The Citadel – W, 5-2
Friday – 4/23 Alabama – W, 6-3
Saturday – 4/24 Alabama – L, 4-7
Sunday – 4/25 Alabama – W, 1-0 (10 innings)
WEEKLY NOTES:
CAROLINA STOPS THE TIDE
South Carolina finished the week 3-1 including a SEC series win vs. Alabama … South Carolina has now won three consecutive series vs. the Crimson Tide and seven of the last 10 meetings between both schools …
CAMPBELL SHUTS THEM DOWN
Junior LHP Matt Campbell threw a complete game shutout in Sunday’s 10-inning 1-0 win vs. the Crimson Tide, his first career shutout and second career complete game … Campbell did not allow a runner to reach third base and allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters … The last USC pitcher to hurl a complete game shutout was Chris Hernandez in the 2003 NCAA Regional vs. East Carolina on May 30, a 4-0 win … Campbell is now 6-2 on the year with a 3.14 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched.
RAWL’S SUCCESS ON THE MOUND CONTINUES
Senior RHP Aaron Rawl improved to 8-2 earning the win on Friday as USC defeated Alabama 6-3 … Rawl worked six 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
CLOSING TIME
Junior RHP Chad Blackwell picked up two saves on the week (Wed. vs. The Citadel/Fri. vs. Alabama) and now owns 10 on the year … Blackwell pitched a perfect ninth inning vs. The Citadel and retired eight consecutive batters in the Friday win vs. the Crimson Tide … Blackwell has 50 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen for Carolina.
HEMPY & DONALD PERFORM WELL IN FIRST CAREER STARTS
Freshman LHP Arik Hempy make his first collegiate start on Saturday and worked a career-high six 1/3 innings and allowed one run on seven hits with four strikeouts; took a no-decision … Junior RHP Cliff Donald made his second career collegiate start and earned his first career victory in the 5-2 win vs. the Citadel … Donald allowed one run on five hits in career-high five innings pitched with four strikeouts and no walks.
WELCOME BACK
South Carolina infielders Kevin Melillo and Steven Tolleson returned to the starting lineup this week … Tolleson had the game-winning RBI single vs. Alabama in Sunday’s 1-0 10-inning affair … Tolleson finished the week batting .417 (5-for-12) and is batting a team-best .390 on the year.
POWELL PROVIDES THE POWER
Senior catcher Landon Powell hit his 12th HR of the year, a grand slam in Friday’s 6-3 win vs. Alabama … Powell finished the week batting .429 (6-for-14) with five RBI … Powell on the year owns a .389 batting average (63-for-163) with 12 HR and 49 RBI as well as 12 doubles … Powell, Michael Campbell, Brendan Winn and Bryan Triplett have started and played in all 40 games for Carolina this year.
CAMPBELL DELIVERS AT THE PLATE
Sophomore OF Michael Campbell went 9-for-13 in the Alabama series including a 4-for-4 game on Friday vs. the Crimson Tide as well as scoring the game-winning run after batting 3-for-5 in Sunday’s 10-inning game … Campbell is now batting .340 with 12 HR and 40 RBI and nine doubles … South Carolina has 66 home runs on the year, one short of last year’s season total with four players with at least 10 HR (Powell, Campbell, Steve Pearce, 12; Brendan Winn, 11).
NEXT WEEK
Wednesday: vs. Wofford – 7 p.m. ET
Friday: vs. Ole Miss – 7 p.m. ET
Saturday: vs. Ole Miss – 4 p.m. ET
Sunday: vs. Ole Miss- 12:30 p.m. ET
