May 31, 2003
Atlanta, Ga. – All America left-hander David Marchbanks gave up two first inning runs Saturday and then shut Stetson out in a complete game 7-2 win that advanced South Carolina to the finals of the NCAA Atlanta regional baseball tournament.
South Carolina, winner of its first two games in Atlanta, will meet the survivor of a Saturday night elimination game between Stetson and East Carolina. East Carolina, a 4-0 loser to the Gamecocks on Friday, eliminated number one seed and host Georgia Tech 10-3 in the Saturday losers’ bracket game. Stetson had defeated the Yellow Jackets 5-4 Friday night.
Marchbanks, named a first team All America Friday by Collegiate Baseball, improved his season record to 14-2 and lowered his earned run average to 2.36 with the Saturday win. He struck out four and walked none. The junior’s three year career record to 30-7.
Marchbanks gave up 11 hits but kept them scattered to hold the Hatters scoreless after Stetson took a 2-0 first inning lead on three hits. Marchbanks was aided by three double plays turned in by the Gamecock defense including a throw by centerfielder Jon Coutlangus that cut down Andy Wilson at the plate attempting to score after Coutlangus caught Ben Hall’s fly ball to snuff out the Stetson first inning after two runs had scored.
Michael Campbell singled, the first of his three hits, and scored on a two out double by Steven Tolleson to put the Gamecocks on the board in the second inning. In the fourth, Campbell singled and scored on a triple by Tolleson. He scored as Coutlangus grounded out to give the Gamecocks 3-2 lead.
Landon Powell, who had four hits including two doubles and his seventh home run, doubled to lead off the Gamecock fifth inning and scored on the first of three hits by Bryan Triplett. That increased the lead to 4-2.
In the sixth, Tolleson walked and moved to second on a sacrifice. Justin Harris was walked intentionally and Brian Buscher singled to drive in Tolleson. Harris scored on the second double by Powell and the Gamecocks led 6-2. Powell closed out the scoring with a two out home run in the eighth inning.
John DeStefano led off the Stetson first inning with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored when a throw to the plate by shortstop Harris was too late to nail DeStefano on a fielder’s choice by Brian Snyder. He moved to third on a hit by Wilson and scored on a double by Chris Westervelt that sent Wilson to third. Wilson was out trying to score after Coutlangus caught the fly ball by Hall.
South Carolina totaled 16 hits led by the four by Powell. Triplett and Campbell had three hits. Tolleson, with a double and a triple, had two hits and a walk before being replaced in right field by defensive specialist Tim Seaton in the sixth inning. Harris also had two hits.
Rusty Beal had three hits of the 11 collected by Stetson. Brandon Paritz and Westervelt had two.
South Carolina coach Ray Tanner called the game “a hitter’s day” and said Marchbanks “battled and made his pitches and after the first inning he was clutch for us. We turned three double plays. We needed all the hits we could get. Stetson was still in the game until the last out. Other than the first inning we played a good game.”
Marchbanks said double plays are a pitcher’s best friend “so it definitely helped us to have three.” He called Stetson a great hitting team, saying “they are aggressive and I knew I had to keep the ball down, move it in and out, locate my pitches. The defense behind me has been great all year. They stepped up big today.”
Stetson coach Pete Dunn said “you have to give credit to South Carolina but certainly David Marchbanks. We came out swinging the bats pretty well and got a couple of runs. They made a great defensive play to throw a guy out at the plate and get them out of the inning.”
Catcher Landon Powell, on breaking out of a slump with four hits, said “baseball is a game like that but you just have to keep swinging away, working at it and it will start working out. I just swing hard and hopefully find a hole.”
Freshman Steven Tolleson on his double, triple and two runs batted in, said “I’m just here to try and make a contribution.” Tolleson also contributed a sliding catch of a fly ball in right field.”
