University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
South Carolina (NCAA Super Regional)
Tar Heels' Season Ends With 14-4 Loss To South Carolina
June 7, 2003 | Baseball
June 7, 2003
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina (44-20) defeated North Carolina (42-23),14-4 on Saturday afternoon at Sarge Frye Field in game two of the NCAA Super Regional. With this loss, UNC is eliminated from the NCAA Tournament while South Carolina advances to the College World Series. Seven Carolina pitchers allowed a season-high 21 hits and Steven Bondurant struck out seven Tar Heels in 6.2 innings of work for USC. Carolina's offense put 12 hits on the board but stranded 13 runners on base.
The Gamecocks loaded the bases and threatened in the top of the first. Kalkhof retired lead off batter Steven Tolleson but South Carolina loaded the bases with one out thanks to two singles and a walk. But Kalkhof got Bryan Triplett to ground into a double play, ending the inning without any damage.
Carolina put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Sean Farrell reached base on a bunt single and moved to second when third baseman Buscher's threw the ball errantly down the right field line. It looked like Bondurant may get out of the inning unscathed when he retired the next two batters, but with two outs, Ryan Blake came through with an RBI single up the middle. Wes Moyer then dumped a double down the right field line, scoring Blake with the Tar Heels' second run.
South Carolina came right back with four runs in the top of the third. Michael Campbell drew a leadoff walk and Justin Harris singled for the second time in the game. Buscher then lined a single into right field, scoring Campbell and moving Harris over to third. Powell followed with his second home run in as many games, a three-run shot over the left field wall which ended Kalkhof's day.
The Tar Heels put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Blake reached on a two-base throwing error and was on second base when Blair Waggett grounded a ball to second which Kevin Melillo threw into the Gamecocks' dugout, allowing Blake to score Carolina's third run.
The Gamecocks added to their lead with three runs in the top of the seventh. Harris singled for the third time in the game and scored when Buscher launched his 13th home run of the season over the right field wall. A sacrifice fly to the right field wall off the bat of Melillo scored Powell who reached on a double two batters earlier.
A run in the bottom of the seventh for the Tar Heels made the score 7-4. Jeremy Cleveland's second hit of the game was his 103rd of the season, setting a new Carolina single-season record. With two outs, pinch hitter Justin Webb was hit by a pitch and Chris Iannetta drew a walk. Blake then grounded a bases loaded single through the left side of the infield, scoring Cleveland.
South Carolina would add seven insurance runs over the final two innings to make the score 14-4 and put the game out of reach for the Tar Heels. Buscher and Powell both hit their second home runs of the game in the top of the ninth inning for the Gamecocks.
