April 6, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – Jon Willard and Michael Campbell had three hits, including two run home runs Wednesday night and South Carolina defeated The Citadel 9-4 in a non-conference game before a crowd of 4,206 at Sarge Frye Field.
Willard got the Gamecocks off to a fast start when he homered after a first inning single by Campbell. Willard singled in the sixth inning and doubled in the eighth. He scored twice and pinch runner Steven Reinhold scored after Willard’s double.
Campbell singled and scored in the third inning and homered after a walk to Joey Friddle in the eighth inning. It was Willard’s sixth homer of the season and Campbell’s fourth.
Andy Lambert, the fifth of eight South Carolina pitchers, was credited with the win to improve his record to 3-0. Michael McLaurin, second of four Bulldog pitchers, took the loss to drop to 0-1. South Carolina improved to 25-5 overall while The Citadel fell to 11-16.
South Carolina, which defeated The Citadel 4-2 a week ago in Charleston, swept the two game series between the in-state rivals this season.
After South Carolina took a 3-0 lead with two runs in the first and one in the third inning on a RBI single by Steven Tolleson The Citadel tied the score with a run in the third and two in the fourth. Jon Aughey reached on an error and hits by Chance Smith and Matt Covington loaded the bases in the third. Aughey scored on a ground out by Chris Ard.
Walks to Josh Stackley and Chris Swauger, a double steal, and two ground outs tied it at 3-3 in the fourth.
South Carolina regained the lead with three sixth inning runs, only one of them earned. Singles by Willard and Steve Pearce, an error on a sacrificed bunt, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly accounted for the rally.
South Carolina added a run in the seventh inning on Willard’s double, a passed ball and a n RBI ground out by Ian Paxton. The two run eighth inning homer by Campbell completed the scoring.
South Carolina travels to Baton Rouge for a three game Southeastern Conference series with Louisiana State University Friday through Sunday.
