May 4, 2001

Reining National Player of the Year Kip Bouknight tossed a three-hit shutout in leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to an 11-0 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night at Sarge Frye Field.

Four different Gamecocks belted home runs as the Gamecocks pounded out 12 hits and improved to 37-14 overall, 13-12 in the Southeastern Conference. UK could muster only three hits, a season low, in falling to 20-30, 6-19 in conference play.

Leading 1-0 in the fourth inning, USC's bats came alive. Michael Floyd led off with a single and advanced to second on a single by Bryon Jeffcoat. After Tripp Kelly popped up to UK pitcher Scott Wade on a failed bunt attempt, Chris Plummer, the number nine hitter for the Gamecocks, smacked a three run homer over the left field wall. Marcus McBeth then followed with a solo blast, giving USC a 5-0 lead.

Carolina would add a single run in the sixth on a solo homer from Kelly before plating two runs in the seventh and three in the eighth to make the final tally 11-0. Included in the two-run seventh inning was Tim Whittaker's team-leading 16th home run.

Bouknight improved to 8-2 with the win. Bouknight, a senior RHP, struck out six batters while allowing only three bases-on-balls. Wade suffered the loss for UK, falling to 3-8 on the campaign. Wade allowed 11 hits and eight earned runs over 6-1/3 innings.

Vince Harrison collected two of the three Wildcat base hits. Brad Pickrell and Spencer Preston both saw their seven-game hitting streaks come to and end as the two went a combined 0-for-7 on the night.

Brennan Dees paced USC with three hits as every Gamecock starter aside from Drew Meyer collected at least one hit.

UK will look to even the series tomorrow when the two team meet again at 6 p.m. Rob Corrado will take the mound for UK. Gary Bell is scheduled to start for USC.