April 3, 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C. – In the second game of Strike Out Cancer Saturday at Beckham Field, South Carolina (10-26, 0-16 SEC) could not capture its first Southeastern Conference win of the season as No. 16/19 Tennessee (29-7, 10-3 SEC) took home a series sweep with the 8-0, five-inning win in the final game of the three-game series.
A season-best 653 fans came out to the oldest stadium in the SEC, helping raise money for cancer research through donations and a silent auction. Hannah Bilton, who survived a bout with cancer at the same time as her mother Wendy, threw out the first pitch prior to the doubleheader start. Both teams wore pink socks, while the umpires sported pink armbands in support of the cause.
In game two, Tennessee’s Raven Chavanne, Tiffany Huff and Melissa Brown all collected two hits and two runs in the game, while Huff led the way with three RBI. Gamecock senior Adele Voigt was one of three Gamecocks to get a hit, while she reached base in both of her plate appearances.
The Lady Vols wasted no time getting on the board, getting a two-RBI single from Huff before Spigner plated her with a hit to center. UT made it 6-0 in the second with three more runs. Kat Dotson fielder’s choice brought home the first, while Chavanne scored on a failed double steal attempt. Lauren Gibson finished the scoring in the frame with her RBI single.
Tennessee got a run in the third when a pitch hit Jessica Spigner with the bases loaded, forcing in Brown after she led off the frame with a hit. The Lady Volunteers posted their final run in the fifth on Huff’s single to right, scoring Dotson after she got a hit and a stolen base.
Ivy Renfroe (17-2) tossed the five-inning shutout, allowing two walks and three hits while striking out six. Junior April Borchardt (3-2) took the loss, giving up three earned runs on five hits in an inning. Sophomore Kierstyn White was effective in relief, allowing two runs, one earned, in 3.1 innings of work. She struck out two while giving up four hits and a walk.
South Carolina steps out of conference action on Tuesday when it welcomes USC Upstate for a 5 p.m. EDT first pitch at Beckham Field.
