April 6, 2003
Baton Rouge, La. – Louisiana State jumped on South Carolina left-handers Matt Campbell and Zach Reeves for eight runs in the first two innings Sunday and beat the Gamecocks 12-4 to take a Southeastern Conference baseball series two games to one.
The loss drops South Carolina’s record to 20-12 overall and 5-7 in the SEC. LSU improves to 21-10-1 and 9-2-1 in the conference. Campbell, 1-2, was charged with the loss. Junior right-hander Nate Bumstead, 4-1, pitched a complete game to get the win.
South Carolina got on the board first, with one run in the first inning. Kevin Melillo knocked a double to left center to lead of the inning and scored on an RBI single by Brian Buscher to put the Gamecocks in front 1-0.
The South Carolina lead didn’t last long though, as LSU came back in the bottom half of the first with three runs. Ivan Naccarata’s RBI single with the bases loaded off Campbell scored two runs and an RBI ground out from Clay Harris gave LSU a 3-1 lead. Campbell lasted just two thirds of an inning.
The Tigers weren’t done though, batting around in the second inning against Reeves and scoring five runs. With two outs and the bases loaded Aaron Hill hit a triple down the right field line just pass first baseman Bryan Triplett to score three runs and give the Tigers a 6-1 lead. RBI hits from Clay Harris and Blake Gill increased the lead to 8-1 and knocked Reeves out of the game.
Sophomore right-hander Cliff Donald pitched 4 2/3 innings and yielded three unearned runs. After a two out double by Clay Harris Blake Gill reached on an error that should have ended the inning and Quinn Stewart followed with his fifth home run of the season to make the score 11-1.
Matt Liuzza homered in the seventh inning off Forrest Beverly for the final LSU run and the Tigers led 12-1.
South Carolina scored three times in the top of the ninth. Singles by Landon Powell and Hank Parks and the only walk issued by Bumstead loaded the bases with one out. Pinch runner Davy Gregg scored as Jon Coutlangus grounded for the second out. Steven Tolleson doubled to drive in two runs.
LSU had 14 hits, three by Ryan Patterson and two each by Harris, Gill and Liuzza. Tolleson had three of South Carolina’s 10 hits. Kevin Melillo and Parks had two hits.
