April 30, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – Michael Campbell’s two out ninth inning single scored Tommy King with the tying run Saturday and Joey Friddle crossed with the game winner when a throw by Auburn right fielder Clete Thomas eluded catcher Josh Bell and South Carolina’s 3-2 victory evened a Southeastern Conference baseball series at one game apiece.
The rubber game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Sunday. South Carolina improved to 31-12 overall, 11-9 in the SEC, while Auburn dropped to 27-18, 9-11. Senior right-hander Jason Fletcher, 4-3, 3.20, will be South Carolina’s Sunday pitcher with Auburn going with freshman right-hander Cliff Mullins, 1-0, 2.83.
The start of Saturday’s game was delayed 17 minutes due to wet weather but a Sarge Frye Field crowd of 3,102 turned out despite the wet conditions.
South Carolina, which has not had an extra base hit in the first two games of the series, had only three hits going into the ninth inning when King delivered a two out single and Friddle walked on a three balls and two strikes count.
Campbell, who had a first inning single, slashed a line drive to right field for the Winchester, Va., junior’s 200th career hit. Thomas attempted to beat the tying run to the plate but his throw rolled to the back stop and Friddle scored the second run of the inning.
South Carolina had only Campbell’s first inning hit, a fifth inning bloop single by Neil Giesler, and an eighth inning single by Steve Pearce until the winning rally.
Auburn built a 2-1 lead on a fourth inning solo home run by Josh Bell, his ninth of the season, and a tie breaking bloop RBI single by Bell in the eighth inning.
South Carolina had tied the score at 1-1 without a hit in the seventh inning. Mark Stanley walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Davy Gregg who was safe on an error by Auburn third baseman Josh Donaldson. Stanley alertly took an extra base, stealing third, when Donaldson threw to first after bobbling the bunt. Stanley scored on a fielder’s choice ground out by Chris Brown.
South Carolina’s Zac McCamie and Auburn’s Josh Sullivan were locked in a pitcher’s duel with Sullivan allowing two hits and one run into the seventh inning when he was relieved by John Madden. Sullivan struck out only two and walked four. McCamie pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and two runs. He struck out seven and walked none.
The decisions, however, went to relievers Brent Marsh, who improved his record to 2-1, and Michael Nix, who dropped to 4-2.
Auburn had eight hits to South Carolina’s five. Tyler Johnstone and Bell had two hits each for the Tigers. Johnstone and Karl Amonite had doubles. Campbell was the only Gamecock with two hits.
