March 22, 2003
Knoxville, Tenn. – Derek Tharpe worked eight and one third innings and struck out seven batters and Luke Hochevar earned his second save in as many days, as Tennessee defeated South Carolina 4-2 on Saturday evening in the second of a three-game series. Tennessee improves to 13-8 and 3-2 in conference play while the loss drops the Gamecocks record to 16-7 and 1-4 in the SEC. Sunday’s game is the final game of the three-game series with Tennessee with first pitch set for 2 p.m. Sophomore LHP Matt Campbell is scheduled to start for South Carolina.
Tharpe allowed 11 hits but struck out seven batters while walking none. Tharpe is now 2-2 on the year with Hochevar earning his second save of the season. South Carolina starter David Marchbanks went three and two/third innings allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks allowed. Marchbanks took the loss for USC and is now 4-2 on the season. Senior RHP Chris Hernandez came on in relief for Carolina and pitched the last four and one third innings allowing just one run on three hits. It was Hernandez’s second longest outing of his career.
South Carolina wasted no time getting on the scoreboard early, scoring one run in the first inning. A two-out double by Brian Buscher set the table for Landon Powell who knocked his 10th double of the season to left center giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead. Buscher’s double in the first inning extended his hitting streak to 12 games and he has now hit safely in 22 of 23 games in the 2003 season.
Tennessee tied the game in their half of the third inning. Jordan Czarniecki’s one-out single off Marchabanks scored Chad LeGate to knot the game at one apiece. LeGate gave Tennessee its first lead of the ball game in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and on out, LeGate knocked a single up the middle to score two runs and put the Volunteers on top 3-1.
The Gamecocks came back in the sixth inning to closing within one run of the Volunteers. Bryan Triplett’s bunt single was misplayed by Derek Tharpe, with Tharpe throwing into right field and advancing Triplett to third base. Tharpe proceeded to balk on the next batter scoring Triplett. Tennessee regained a two-run lead in the bottom half of the inning with a sacrifice RBI bunt from Nick Crowe.
The Gamecocks outhit the Volunteers for the second consecutive day, 12-10 with four players collecting two hits. Buscher, Powell, Jon Coutlangus and freshman Steven Tolleson each finished with two hits for Carolina. Jordan Czarniecki, Kyle Norrid and Legate collected two hits apiece to spark Tennessee.
