Things started off bad for UNC and starter Robert Woodard. Travis Jones lined Woodard's initial pitch of the game back through the box for a base hit, and before the fans had time to settle into their seats, James Darnell gave South Carolina a 2-0 lead when he drilled the third pitch of the game off the netting in left field for a 2-run homer. Woodard settled in after that, getting Justin Smoak and Phil Disher to strike out looking. After the home run, he retired ten in a row and 14 of 15.

Meanwhile, USC starter Harris Honeycutt rolled through the beginning of the game, no-hitting UNC until there was one out in the fourth. Josh Horton doubled to right field with Tim Federowicz on board, but the Tar Heels couldn't get a run in. Both pitchers kept the opposition off balance with mostly off-speed pitches, and the first 4 1/2 innings took only about one hour.

A huge sixth inning nearly put the game away for the Gamecocks as they managed four runs on only one hit. Woodard walked two in the inning and another batter reached on an error by third baseman Chad Flack before pinch hitter Robbie Grinestaff clubbed a grand slam to deep right field to make it 6-0.

The Tar Heels battled back in the bottom of the sixth with three runs of their own. With two outs, Josh Horton and Chad Flack had back to back doubles to get UNC on the board. Kyle Seager then hit a ground ball to shortstop Reese Havens, but Flack managed to linger long enough to obstruct Havens' view, resulting in an error. A single by Seth Williams drove in Flack to make it 6-2 and chase Honeycutt from the game. Garrett Gore greeted reliever Curtis Johnson with a single to score Seager and make it 6-3 before Reid Fronk tapped back to the mound to end the inning.

Then the wheels came off for the USC pitching staff in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Tim Federowicz singled and then scored when Josh Horton hit a single to LF that Cheyne Hurst misplayed, allowing the ball to get through to the wall and letting "Fed Ex" score. An RBI single by Chad Flack made it 6-5 and a single by Kyle Seager chased reliever Curtis Johnson. Closer Jeff Jeffords couldn't find the plate, however, walking Seth Williams and Garrett Gore to tie the game. Jeffords was yanked by Ray Tanner with a 1-0 count on Reid Fronk. Bringing in Will Atwood didn't end the Gamecocks' troubles, as Fronk hit a single that second baseman Travis Jones couldn't bring in and put the Tar Heels ahead 7-6. A weird play brought in two more runs, as Tim Fedroff hit a hard ground ball off the glove of pitcher Atwood that looked playable by SS Reese Havens. But Havens committed his second error as the ball scooted away from him, making it 9-6 UNC.

That meant it was time for UNC closer Andrew Carignan, who came on in the eighth and held the Gamecocks scoreless.