March 28, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – Senior Michael Campbell and freshman Reese Havens drove in three runs apiece Wednesday night and five pitchers combined to limit Wofford to six hits as fifth ranked South Carolina completed a six game 6-0 home stand with a 13-1 college baseball victory.
South Carolina travels to Baton Rouge for a three game Southeastern Conference series with LSU this weekend. The Gamecocks, 23-3 overall, are tied for first in the SEC Eastern Division and overall standings with a 5-1 conference record. LSU defeated New Orleans 6-5 in 12 innings Wednesday to improve its record to 20-7. The Bayou Bengals are 2-4 in the SEC Western Division.
Dan Luczak, who relieved starter Harris Honeycutt after four innings, was credited with the win to improve his record to 2-0. Wofford starter Adam Wood, 0-2, was charged with the loss. The Terriers fell to 15-14.
Campbell drove in two runs with a third inning single and another with an infield out in the fourth. Havens doubled in the first Gamecock run in the second inning, singled to drive in one in the three run sixth, and drove in a third run in the eighth with a ground out.
Robbie Grinestaff had two runs batted in, one with a bases loaded third inning walk and another with a double in the sixth inning.
Senior third baseman Neil Giesler was lifted for a pinch runner after he singled in the sixth inning to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. Giesler leads the Southern Conference with a .500 batting average on 45 hits in 90 at bats.
Senior outfielder Mark Stanley hit a bases empty home run in the sixth inning, his first homer of the year and second of his career. Justin Smoak, Drew Martin and James Darnell also had runs batted in.
South Carolina collected 13 hits including a double and a triple by Trent Kline and doubles by Grinestaff, Andrew Crisp, Havens and Drew Martin. Campbell, Havens and Kline each had two hits.
After South Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning Zach Pittman tied it in the Wofford second with his second home run of the season. The Gamecocks countered with five third inning runs, scored once in the fourth, three times in the sixth, once in the seventh and twice in the eighth.
South Carolina’s defense played its 14th errorless game and third errorless game in a row. The Gamecocks have committed one error in the past six games and 16 in 26 outings. Wednesday’s game ended with an unassisted double play by substitute first baseman Drew Martin.
