April 21, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – Brendan Winn and Nick Gardiner had three hits apiece Wednesday night and South Carolina scored single runs in five different innings to defeat The Citadel 5-2 before 3,868 fans at Sarge Frye Field.
Junior right-hander Cliff Donald, making his second career start, worked five innings to earn his first career win. Normally a middle inning relief pitcher, Donald allowed five hits, walked none and struck out four. The only run he allowed was a solo fifth inning home run by The Citadel’s Trent Weathers, his first. Donald, who started one game at Florida last year, is 1-0 this season. He has one save.
Jamie Maxwell, the first of five Citadel pitchers, was the loser to drop his record to 1-2. South Carolina also used five pitchers with Chad Blackwell working a hitless ninth inning to earn his ninth save. He hit a batter and struck out one.
Bryan Triplett and Winn hit back to back first inning doubles for a 1-0 South Carolina lead. Gardiner singled in the second inning, moved to second on a walk to Kevin Melillo, to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Steven Tolleson.
Melillo and Tolleson, both out of action for a month with injuries, returned to the starting lineup, at second base and shortstop, respectively. Melillo was hitless in two official at bats with a walk and a sacrifice. Tolleson was one for two in addition to his RBI fly. He singled in the sixth inning and gave way to pinch runner Steven Reinhold.
Winn led off the Gamecock third inning with his second double of the game, took third on a ground out, and scored when Steve Pearce grounded out.
After the fifth inning homer by Weathers cut the Gamecock lead to 3-1, South Carolina got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Winn singled for his third hit, moved to third on a hit and run single by Landon Powell, and scored on a wild pitch.
An infield hit by Andy Phillips and two walks loaded the bases for The Citadel with one out in the seventh inning. Phillips scored on a fielder’s choice by pinch hitter Mark Egleton.
Gardiner doubled for his third hit to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning. Pinch runner scored on a single by Tommy King who had replaced Tolleson at shortstop.
South Carolina center fielder Davy Gregg saw his hitting streak halted after 14 games when he was hitless in four official at bats. He had one base on balls. Designated hitter Matt Covington, who also pitched two innings for the Bulldogs, had two of The Citadel’s six hits.
South Carolina continues its home stand when the Gamecocks meet Alabama in a three game Southeastern Conference series beginning Friday night.
