April 2, 2003
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior right-hander Patrick Hogan baffled South Carolina’s batters into the eighth inning Wednesday night and Michael Johnson and Brad McCann hit back to back seventh inning home runs as Clemson defeated the Gamecocks 4-2 before 6,158 fans at Sarge Frye Field.
Hogan allowed just two hits over the first seven innings and turned the mound over to the bullpen after South Carolina scored an eighth inning run on two hits and a walk. Hogan picked up his first win of the season. He has lost once. Matt Campbell, the South Carolina starter, took the loss to drop to 1-2.Campbell gave up seven hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Clemson improved its record to 21-6 while South Carolina dropped to 19-10. The Tigers have taken two of the first three games in the series with the Gamecocks this season. The fourth and final game is scheduled for next Wednesday night in Doug Kingsmore Stadium at Clemson.
South Carolina travels to Baton Rouge for a weekend Southeastern Conference series with Louisiana State. Clemson is at home for an Atlantic Coast Conference series with Virginia.
South Carolina threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning against Clemson relief pitchers Robert Rohrbaugh and Paul Harrelson but Harrelson induced Michael Campbell to hit into a game ending double play after the Gamecocks had scored an unearned run.
Pinch hitter Nick Gardiner reached on a one out error, Justin Harris singled him to third and pinch hitter Jared Greenwood’s bloop single scored Gardiner before the double play ended the game. Harrelson earned his fifth save.
Clemson broke a scoreless tie with two fifth inning runs. Garrick Evans walked, was sacrificed to second and scored on a single by Johnson. McCann doubled him to third and Johnson scored on a base hit by Jeff Hourigan. McCann tried to also score on the play but was out at the plate on a throw by left fielder Michael Campbell. Kyle Frank followed with the fourth consecutive hit off Matt Campbell and he was replaced by Conor Lalor.
Lalor pitched out of the jam and retired Clemson in order in the sixth inning but Johnson led off the seventh with his fifth home run of the season and ninth of his career against South Carolina. McCann followed with his fourth homer of the season to complete the Clemson scoring.
Clemson out hit South Carolina 13-6. Hourigan had three hits. Johnson, McCann, Frank and David Slevin had two. Evans, McCann and Slevin had doubles. Jon Coutlangus had two of south Carolina’s six hits, including a double, the only extra base hit by a Gamecock.
