Feb. 28, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina senior infielder Steve Pearce earned Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball following his performance last weekend in the Gamecocks’ three-game sweep vs. Niagara. Pearce finished the weekend 8-for-13 with a .615 batting average including three home runs, two of which were grand slams on back-to-back days. Pearce also was named SEC Player of the Week, the second time in his career he has earned that distinction.

Pearce had his second multi-HR game of his career in Saturday’s 19-1 win over Niagara with his first career grand slam and tied a career-high with five hits in a perfect day at the plate. Pearce hit his second grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie in Carolina’s 6-2 win over the Purple Eagles on Sunday. Pearce finished the weekend with 10 runs batted in.

South Carolina (9-0) remains ranked fifth in the nation in the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Polls released on Monday afternoon. The Gamecocks return to action on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. hosting the Wofford Terriers at Sarge Frye Field.