As much as it hurts to say it ...

By Mark Etheridge - March 23, 2007

An umpire just got a close call right.

My granddad could really light up an umpire. Granted, it was usually in front of a tv instead at the park, but he could come up with some great stuff. If he was here tonight, he would have ripped third base umpire Steve Dew.

Here's the reset: High pop fly down the leftfield line. Gamecock outfielder Robbie Grinestaff drifts over into foul territory and drops the fly. He nonchalantly picks up the ball while the batter races into second. Everyone assumed it was a foul ball except the umpire Dew, who called it fair. SC coach Ray Tanner came out to argue, but the play stood as a two-base error.

One of the advantages of being in the pressbox is the replay capabilities. While the folks in the stands could not see the replay on the giant jumbo-tron since it was a controversial play, they can play it in the pressbox for the official scorer.

We got several looks and while the fielder drifted into foul territory, the ball would have dropped fair.

In the middle of the fourth, South Carolina leads 3-2.