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THE GAMECOCK • Wednesday June 8, 2005 ' Q ,PORTS ; ■ . ' . ■ . .. . GEORGIA TECH 5, CAROLINA 0 JOHN AMIS/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS South Carolina teamates react somberly as Georgia Tech celebrates the final strikeout in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the Atlanta regional with a 5-0 win on Monday night, making it the first time in six seasons the Gamecocks haven’t advanced to the Super Regionals. STINGING DEFEAT ■ Early exit leaves Gamecocks in unfamiliar spot By JONATHAN HILLYARD FOR THE GAMECOCK ATLANTA — Everyone knew it had to happen sometime, but still, the look on the players’ faces was one of pure disgust. As the 2005 USC baseball team walked off the field Monday night, the Gamecocks experienced something no player on the team had ever experienced — ending their season somewhere other than the College World Series. “The only way we know how to end the season is in Omaha,” junior shortstop Steven Tolleson said. “I’m extremely disappointed for the two seniors sitting beside me.” The two seniors beside Tolleson were Gamecock stars Steve Pearce and Aaron Rawl, who both ended their collegiate careers watching Georgia Tech celebrate a berth in the Super Regionals. “I guess I’m spoiled going to Omaha three years in a row,” Rawl, Monday’s losing pitcher, said. “It’s what we expect.” Before the Atlanta Regional Championship against Georgia Tech Monday, Carolina had won 12 elimination games in the last four seasons and looked poised to keep the nations No. 2 seed at home for the summer. After ending the past three seasons among the nations eight best teams, the Gamecocks will now experience the long offseason they have forced so many others into. “For whatever reason, we had a bad second half (of the season) offensively,” USC coach Ray Tanner said following his team’s elimination. “On the other hand, we won 40-plus games, and there were some teams that didn’t make it to the championship game of the regional.” Despite the bitter end, Tanner did speak positively about the 2005 Carolina team. “I’ll remember this club for fighting until the very end,” he said. “Are we happy where we ended up? No we’re not. But we got beat by a better team, and I wish Georgia Tech well.” The team will look ahead, but will have to do so without some of its most important pieces. Pearce, who returned to Columbia for his senior season despite being selected in the 10th round of the 2004 draft, will leave the Gamecocks with two consecutive team Triple Crown titles. The All-Region first baseman also leaves Carolina as the only player ever to have 20 back to-back home run seasons. Tolleson will evaluate his ♦ BASEBALL, page 10 use GETS RAMBLIN’ WRECKED ■ Fourth run to Omaha derailed in Atlanta regional By STEPHEN FASTENAU FOR THE GAMECOCK ATLANTA — Playing the role of underdog in an NCAA Tournament regional is not something Ray Tanner and his USC baseball team had been accustomed to in the past. Seeded No. 2 in the Atlanta region, the Gamecocks finally met their match, being eliminated Monday night by Georgia Tech in the regional championship game and failing to reach the College World Series for the first time in three seasons. Monday’s 5-0 shutout was the first time this seasop Tanner’s team failed to score a run. USC senior hrst baseman Steve Pearce and juniors third baseman Neil Giesler and outfielder Michael Campbell were named to the regional all tournament team. Pearce led players in the regional with 10 hits. In a game delayed an hour because of lightning, the Gamecocks never could get their bats to cooperate, managing only five hits off Yellow Jacket pitchers sophomore Tim Gustafson and freshman Matt Wieters. USC senior pitcher Aaron Rawl asked Tanner to put the ball in his hand for the deciding game and was granted his request. Hoping his ace would limit the Yellow Jackets for a few strong innings, Tanner’s plan backfired. Rawl surrendered four runs on seven hits in two and one third innings, being replaced in ♦ WRECKED, page 10