2002 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team

The 2002 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2002 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Gamecocks played their home games at the new Sarge Frye Field. The team was coached by Ray Tanner in his 6th season at South Carolina.

2002 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball
Columbia Regional Champions Columbia Super Regional Champions
College World Series, Runner-Up
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Eastern Division
Record	57–18 (21–8 SEC)
Head coach	Ray Tanner (6th season)
Assistant coaches	Jim Toman (6th season) Jerry Meyers (6th season) Stuart Lake (4th season)
Home stadium	Sarge Frye Field
Seasons ← 2001 2003 →

2002 Southeastern Conference baseball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Eastern
No. 2 South Carolina  x‍†‍‍y	21	–	8		.724			53	–	16		.768
No. 20 Florida  ‍‍‍y	20	–	10		.667			46	–	19		.708
Georgia  ‍‍‍y	15	–	15		.500			32	–	29		.525
Tennessee  ‍‍‍	12	–	18		.400			27	–	28		.491
Vanderbilt  ‍‍‍	7	–	21		.250			24	–	27		.471
Kentucky  ‍‍‍	6	–	24		.200			17	–	36		.321
Western
No. 16 Alabama  x‍‍‡‍y	20	–	10		.667			51	–	15		.773
No. 11 LSU  ‍‍‍y	19	–	10		.655			44	–	22		.667
Auburn  ‍‍‍y	15	–	15		.500			34	–	26		.567
Mississippi State  ‍‍‍	14	–	15		.483			34	–	24		.586
No. 18 Arkansas  ‍‍‍y	13	–	14		.481			35	–	28		.556
Ole Miss  ‍‍‍	14	–	16		.467			37	–	19		.661
x – Division champion † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 2002[1] Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The Gamecocks lost the College World Series, defeated by the Texas Longhorns in the championship game.

Roster

2002 South Carolina Gamecocks roster
	Pitchers 50 Tony Adler 16 Gary Bell 30 Rico Bravo 13 Steven Bondurant 3 Matt Campbell 12 Cliff Donald 33 Rocky Evans 28 Chris Hernandez 36 David Marchbanks 14 Aaron Rawl 8 Tim Seaton 25 Chris Spigner 42 Blake Taylor 20 John Wesley 34 Steven Whetstone 46 Matt Wilson		Catchers 26 Jared Greenwood 10 Landon Powell Infielders 18 Brian Buscher 17 Trey Dyson 7 Drew Meyer 27 Kevin Melillo 32 Yaron Peters 45 Demetric Smith 44 Adam Tolman		Outfielders 4 Jon Coutlangus 22 Garris Gonce 5 Justin Harris 47 Kyle Pope 11 Matt Riddle 39 Jason Ross 15 Steve Thomas

Schedule and results

Legend
	South Carolina win
	South Carolina loss
	South Carolina tie

2002 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball game log (57–18)
Regular season (44–12)
February (9–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record SEC Record February 8 Charleston Southern No. 8 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 11–3 1–0 – February 9 Charleston Southern No. 8 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 19–1 2–0 – February 10 Charleston Southern No. 8 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 3–2 3–0 – February 15 East Tennessee State No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 14–2 4–0 – February 16 East Tennessee State No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 7–4 5–0 – February 17 East Tennessee State No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 14–5 6–0 – February 22 vs. VCU No. 5 Coastal Federal Field • Myrtle Beach, SC W 5–3 7–0 – February 23 vs. No. 17 Georgia Tech No. 5 Coastal Federal Field • Myrtle Beach, SC W 8–3 8–0 – February 24 vs. Coastal Carolina No. 5 Coastal Federal Field • Myrtle Beach, SC W 11–2 9–0 –
March (14–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record SEC Record March 2 No. 3 Clemson No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 7–9 9–1 – March 3 at No. 3 Clemson No. 4 Beautiful Tiger Field • Clemson, SC L 10–11 9–2 – March 5 UNC Asheville No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 10–4 10–2 – March 6 William & Mary No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 6–5 11–2 – March 8 Seton Hall No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 5–1 12–2 – March 9 Seton Hall No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 6–2 13–2 – March 10 Seton Hall No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 10–5 14–2 – March 12 Purdue No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 15–2 15–2 – March 13 Davidson No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 15–0 16–2 – March 15 at No. 23 Mississippi State No. 4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 4–12 16–3 0–1 March 16 at No. 23 Mississippi State No. 4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 5–3 17–3 1–1 March 17 at No. 23 Mississippi State No. 4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 9–6 18–3 2–1 March 20 Wofford No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 15–6 19–3 2–1 March 22 No. 6 Florida No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 2–1 20–3 3–1 March 23 No. 6 Florida No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 5–14 20–4 3–2 March 24 No. 6 Florida No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 6–4 21–4 4–2 March 27 at The Citadel No. 3 Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park • Charleston, SC L 1–5 21–5 4–2 March 29 No. 5 Alabama No. 3 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 6–10 21–6 4–3 March 30 No. 5 Alabama No. 3 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 9–6 22–6 5–3 March 31 No. 5 Alabama No. 3 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 4–3 23–6 6–3
April (11–4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record SEC Record April 3 Wofford No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 11–0 24–6 6–3 April 5 at Arkansas No. 4 Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR L 4–7 24–7 6–4 April 6 at Arkansas No. 4 Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR L 7–8 24–8 6–5 April 10 The Citadel No. 7 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 2–0 25–8 6–5 April 12 at Vanderbilt No. 7 Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN W 7–5 26–8 7–5 April 13 at Vanderbilt No. 7 Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN W 10–1 27–8 8–5 April 14 at Vanderbilt No. 7 Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN W 20–13 28–8 9–5 April 17 at No. 1 Clemson No. 7 Beautiful Tiger Field • Clemson, SC W 8–6 29–8 9–5 April 19 No. 27 LSU No. 7 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 8–9 29–9 9–6 April 20 No. 27 LSU No. 7 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 4–2 30–9 10–6 April 21 No. 27 LSU No. 7 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 4–3 31–9 11–6 April 24 No. 1 Clemson No. 6 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 1–4 31–10 11–6 April 26 at Kentucky No. 6 Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY W 6–4 32–10 12–6 April 28 at Kentucky No. 6 Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY W 6–4 33–10 13–6 April 28 at Kentucky No. 6 Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY W 12–6 34–10 14–6
May (10–2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record SEC Record May 1 at Wofford No. 4 Duncan Park • Spartanburg, SC W 5–4 35–10 14–6 May 3 No. 9 Ole Miss No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 17–12 36–10 15–6 May 4 No. 9 Ole Miss No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 6–4 37–10 16–6 May 5 No. 9 Ole Miss No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 2–4 37–11 16–7 May 10 Tennessee No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 10–6 38–11 17–7 May 11 Tennessee No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 7–8 38–12 17–8 May 12 Tennessee No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 5–3 39–12 18–8 May 14 at Charleston Southern No. 5 CSU Ballpark • Charleston, SC W 16–4 40–12 18–8 May 15 vs. Furman No. 5 CSU Ballpark • Charleston, SC W 14–0 41–12 18–8 May 17 Georgia No. 5 Foley Field • Athens, GA W 11–9 42–12 19–8 May 18 Georgia No. 5 Foley Field • Athens, GA W 12–4 43–12 19–8 May 19 Georgia No. 5 Foley Field • Athens, GA W 4–2 44–12 20–8
Postseason (13–6)
SEC Tournament (4–2) Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record SECT Record May 22 vs. (8) Arkansas (1) No. 4 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL W 10–1 45–12 1–0 May 23 vs. (4) No. 10 LSU (1) No. 4 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL L 2–8 45–13 1–1 May 24 vs. (8) Arkansas (1) No. 4 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL W 6–2 46–13 2–1 May 25 vs. (4) No. 10 LSU (1) No. 4 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL W 10–8 47–13 3–1 May 25 vs. (4) No. 10 LSU (1) No. 4 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL W 5–4 48–13 4–1 May 26 vs. (2) No. 7 Alabama (1) No. 4 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL L 2–6 48–14 4–2
Columbia Regional (3–1) Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record NCAAT Record May 31 (4) VCU (1) No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 6–3 49–14 1–0 June 1 (2) No. 14 North Carolina (1) No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 9–6 50–14 2–0 June 2 (2) No. 14 North Carolina (1) No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 4–8 50–15 2–1 June 2 (2) No. 14 North Carolina (1) No. 5 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 3–1 51–15 3–1
Columbia Super Regional (2–1) Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record NCAAT Record June 7 No. 17 Miami (FL) (6) No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 10–7 52–15 4–1 June 8 No. 17 Miami (FL) (6) No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC L 2–5 52–16 4–2 June 9 No. 17 Miami (FL) (6) No. 4 Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC W 6–4 53–16 5–2
2002 College World Series (4–2) Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Overall Record CWS Record June 14 vs. No. 6 Georgia Tech (6) No. 3 Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE L 0–11 53–17 0–1 June 16 vs. No. 7 Nebraska (6) No. 3 Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 10–8 54–17 1–1 June 18 vs. No. 6 Georgia Tech (6) No. 3 Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 9–5 55–17 2–1 June 19 vs. (2) No. 4 Clemson (6) No. 3 Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 12–4 56–17 3–1 June 21 vs. (2) No. 4 Clemson (6) No. 3 Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 10–2 57–17 4–1 June 22 vs. (5) No. 2 Texas (6) No. 3 Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE L 6–12 57–18 4–2
Schedule Source:[2]

Awards and honors

Justin Harris

• All Tournament Team^[3]

Landon Powell

• All Tournament Team^[3]

Gamecocks in the 2002 MLB Draft

The following members of the South Carolina Gamecocks baseball program were drafted in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.^[4]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	MLB Club
1	10	Drew Meyer	SS	Texas Rangers
10	305	Yaron Peters	1B	Atlanta Braves
10	306	Gary Bell	P	New York Yankees
31	942	Garris Gonce	OF	St. Louis Cardinals
39	1,174	Blake Taylor	P	Cleveland Indians

References

1. "College Baseball Conference Standings – 2002". boydsworld.com. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
2. "2018 South Carolina Baseball Media Guide" (PDF) (Press release). University of South Carolina Athletics. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
3. "College World Series Record Book" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
4. "MLB Amateur Draft Picks from the University of South Carolina". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2019.