June 7, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – University of South Carolina first basemen Steve Pearce was drafted in the eighth round on Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 241st pick overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Pearce was drafted in the 10th round in 2004 by Boston but returned to USC for his senior season.

In 2005, Pearce hit for a .358 batting average with 21 home runs and 63 RBIs, totaling 161 total bases. Defensively, Pearce totaled 379 putouts while only having three errors for a fielding percentage of .993. He started in all 58 games that he played in 2005. He was a member of the 2005 All-SEC Second Team.

Pearce, a native of Lakeland, Florida, came to USC from Indian River Community College. In 2004, Pearce batted .346 with 21 home runs and 70 RBIs. Pearce led USC in batting average in both seasons that he played with the Gamecocks.