June 6, 2003

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COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina (43-20) defeated North Carolina (42-21), 5-4 on a rainy Friday afternoon at Sarge Frye Field in game one of the NCAA Super Regional. South Carolina pitchers shut down the Tar Heels' offense through the final seven innings and UNC starter Daniel Moore went just 3.1 innings which marked his second shortest performance of the season. Moore gave up eight hits and three earned runs while striking out two. USC starter and SEC Pitcher of the Year David Marchbanks gave up just two earned runs in six innings while recording five strikeouts. Landon Powell homered for the Gamecocks while Wes Moyer hit his sixth home run for Carolina.

The Tar Heels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. South Carolina starter David Marchbanks retired Greg Mangum and Chad Prosser to lead off the game, but issued consecutive walks to Jeremy Cleveland and Sean Farrell. With two outs, Sammy Hewitt ripped a single up the middle, bringing Cleveland around from second with the game's first run.

The Gamecocks took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Steven Tolleson reached on an error by shortstop Chad Prosser and with two outs, Powell hit his eighth home run over the right center field wall.

Carolina reclaimed the lead with three runs in the top of the second. Ryan Blake reached on an error to lead off the inning and came around when designated hitter Moyer launched his sixth home run of the season over the wall in center field. Blair Waggett followed with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mangum. After a strikeout by Prosser, Cleveland lined a single into left field, scoring the speedy Waggett from second. This single was Cleveland's 100th hit of the season. Brian Roberts is the only other Tar Heel to ever record 100 hits in a season. Roberts had 102 base hits during the 1997 season.

South Carolina cut the Tar Heels' lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the third inning. Justin Harris doubled to the right-center field wall to lead off the inning and came around to score when Powell lined a one-out, RBI single into center field.

The Gamecocks took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kevin Melillo and Nick Gardiner started the inning with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt by Jon Coutlangus moved both runners into scoring position, Michael Campbell smacked a two-strike pitch into center, scoring both Melillo and Gardiner to give USC the lead. This hit chased UNC starter Moore from the game after just 3.1 innings pitched, his second shortest outing of the season.

The Tar Heels had a chance to tie the game with a run in the top of the fifth inning when Moyer doubled down the left field line with two outs and Chris Iannetta on first. But Campbell hit his cutoff man Harris who fired a perfect strike to Powell at the plate, nailing Iannetta by a few feet.

Junior lefthander Scott Senatore was brilliant out of the bullpen for UNC, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings of relief. But Chris Hernandez was equally as good for the Gamecocks, going three innings and giving up just one hit to record his second save.

The Tar Heels and Gamecocks will face off again on Saturday afternoon at 12:35 p.m. at Sarge Frye Field for game two of the Columbia Super Regional.