Feb. 8, 2003
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Charleston Southern scored three two out ninth inning runs and survived a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the inning Saturday to upset eighth ranked South Carolina 8-5 and even a three game baseball series at one gem apiece.
The series concludes at 1:30 p.m., Sunday at Sarge Frye Field. The win was the first by Charleston Southern over South Carolina since 1999. The Gamecocks lead the series 59-11.
Brad Bissell, 1-0, was the winning pitcher in relief with Chris Hernandez, 0-1, taking the loss.
With the score tied at 5-5, Michael Blankenship singled and Brandon Massey doubled with one out to put Charleston Southern runners at second and third base. Billy Dalton grounded to the mound and Blankenship was trapped off third base for the second out. Massey scored on a hit by Jordan Haar and Brad Woods was safe on an error to load the bases. Scotty Thacker drove in two runs with a single.
South Carolina loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning but Demetric Smith struck out on a controversial call to end the game. Gamecock Coach Ray Tanner contended Smith had foul tipped the two strike pitch in the dirt but plate umpire Steve Bavilacqua, after conferring with the two base umpires, ruled there was no foul tip.
Sophomore right-hander Ian Holmen pitched 7 2/3 innings for Charleston Southern. He allowed seven hits, all five Gamecock runs – four of them earned – struck out 11 and walked four.
Charleston Southern out hit South Carolina 14-9 with Haar, Thacker, Sole, Blankenship and Jeff Kolhagen each getting two hits. Thacker had three runs batted in. Sole and Massey had doubles. Brian Buscher had three hits for South Carolina including his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth inning. The homer was the only Gamecock extra base hit. Justin Harris had two hits for South Carolina.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 210 100 103 – 8-14-1
SOUTH CAROLINA ———- 200 011 010 – 5-9-2
Holomen, Bissell (8) and Thacker. M. Campbell, Donald (4), Bravo (6), Hernandez (9) and Greenwood, Powell (5). W-Bissell (1-0). L-Hernandez (0-1). Save-None. 2B-CSU, Sole, Massey. HR-USC, Buscher (1).
