April 16, 2004
Lexington, Ky. – Kalen Gibson threw a four hit complete game and Spencer Graeter added a three-run homer as Kentucky defeated sixth ranked South Carolina 6-3 in the first of a three-game SEC baseball series. The win improves Kentucky to 18-15 and 4-9 in the SEC while the loss drops South Carolina to 25-9 and 6-7 in the conference.
Gibson allowed three runs on four hits and struck out nine batters to improve to 4-1 on the season. The four hits allowed is the lowest total by South Carolina in a game this season. USC starting pitcher Billy Buckner took the loss to drop his record to 4-2 on the year. Buckner worked six innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Kentucky opened up a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with an unearned run. A throwing error by Carolina shortstop David Cash put Kentucky leadoff hitter Caleb Stewart on base. After advancing to third base on a groundout and wild pitch, Stewart would score on a RBI single from Jake Knugl. South Carolina would tie the game 1-1 in the third inning. A two-out walk to Cash and a single by Davy Gregg set the table for Bryan Triplett, who lined a RBI single to left field scoring Cash and tying the game. Gregg’s single extended his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games.
The Wildcats would break the tie with three runs in the bottom half of the third. After one-out walks to Joe Naill and Michael Bertram, Spencer Graeter drove a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for his third homer of the season. Kentucky would go ahead 5-1 in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single by Bertram to score Justin Scutchfield.
South Carolina cut the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth inning on a two-run homer from Landon Powell. Bryan Triplett reached base with one out on a throwing error by third baseman Jake Kungl. With two outs and Triplett on third base, Powell drilled his 11th home run of the year over the right field wall bringing the Gamecocks within two runs. Powell has homered in four of the last five games and now owns 36 on his career tying him with Derick Urquhart (1995-98, 36) for eighth place on the USC All-Time Career List. Six of Powell’s 11 home runs have come against SEC opponents.
Kentucky went back ahead by three runs in the eighth inning on a solo home run from Mike Breyman off USC reliever Chad Blackwell. Blackwell worked the final two innings for the Gamecocks allowing just two hits while striking out four batters.
Kentucky finished the game with 10 hits with eight of nine starters with at least one hit, including two from Bertram and Naill. Triplett, Gregg, Steve Pearce and Powell had each of the four hits for South Carolina.
South Carolina and Kentucky continue the series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 2 p.m. Junior LHP Matt Campbell (5-1, 2.50 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Gamecocks with senior RHP Seth Stanley (5-1, 5.79 ERA) on the mound for the Wildcats.
