March 28, 2004
Fayetteville, Ark. – Bryan Triplett and Brendan Winn each collected five hits and fourth ranked South Carolina hit three consecutive home runs in the fifth inning as the Gamecocks defeated Arkansas 10-2 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of a three-game baseball series. The win improves South Carolina to 21-4 and 2-4 in the SEC while the loss drops Arkansas to 17-9 and 3-3 in the SEC. Junior LHP Matt Campbell pitched hit first complete game to improve to 5-1 on the year with Arkansas starter Justin White taking the loss, dropping his record 1-1 on the year. Campbell allowed just five hits and struck out six batters to get the win for USC.
Triplett’s five hits included three doubles that ties a USC single game record for doubles in a game. South Carolina finished the afternoon with 19 hits on the game. South Carolina second baseman Tommy King set a school record for sacrifice hits in a game with four on the afternoon, besting the previous mark of two set by many players. Eight of nine players in USC’s starting lineup had at least one hit. Steve Pearce, Landon Powell and Michael Campbell each had two apiece.
South Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as Brendan Winn led off with a double and scored on a one-out RBI sacrifice fly from Hank Parks. Arkansas scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the frame to take a one-run lead. Casey Rowlett walked with one out and advanced to third base on an error by shortstop Bryan Triplett. Triplett threw wide of second base on a force play, allowing Rowlett to advance to third and putting Danny Hamblin on first base. Haas Pratt knocked Rowlett in on a RBI groundout to tie the game at one. Arkansas would score on a two-out single from Blake Parker to go ahead 2-1 on the Gamecocks.
South Carolina hit three consecutive home runs and chased Arkansas starter Justin White in the fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Down 2-1 in the top of the fifth, Bryan Triplett led off the inning with his third double of the game. Michael Campbell then launched the first pitch from White to deep right center for his 10th home run of the season and his fifth of the week. With Arkansas reliever Trey Holloway in the game, South Carolina didn’t stop as Steve Pearce and Landon Powell each knocked homers to left field to put USC on top by three runs. The three consecutive home runs for the Gamecocks marked the second time this season USC has accomplished the feat. Kevin Melillo, Brendan Winn and Campbell put together three straight homers in a 38-0 win vs. Charleston Southern on Feb. 14, 2004. USC would score four more runs on the game with Landon Powell leading the way with a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning to score two runs.
South Carolina returns to the field on Wednesday, Mar. 31 at 7:15 p.m. as the Gamecocks face North Carolina in the Battle of the Border at Knights Stadium in Ft. Mill, S.C. The meeting between both schools is the first since last season’s NCAA Super Regional in which South Carolina defeated North Carolina twice to advance to the College World Series. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on 103.1 FM and 1320 AM in Columbia and on the Gamecock Radio Network. Live audio will also be available at USCSPORTS.COM.
