Feb. 8, 2009
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – A pair of doubles in the sixth inning propelled the College of Charleston to a 2-1 victory over South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point Field.
The Cougars (1-2) struck in the sixth, as Amber Shifflett bunted for a leadoff single and moved to second on sister Kristie’s sacrifice. Shannon Howard lined out to first for the second out, but Christal Kotchman came through in the clutch with a double to left center, plating Shifflett. Amanda Lonergan followed with a double to score Kotchman and give the Cougars the 2-1 advantage. Broyles came back to get Pesature to ground out to get out of the inning.
The Gamecocks (2-1) got on the board in the third. Freshman Kandyce Redondo led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on Kristen Stubblefield’s sacrifice. Ashton Payne drew a walk, and Laura Mendes singled to load the bases for Jill Semento. Semento then drove a ball to center that was caught, allowing Redondo to score on the play. Freshman Evan Childs stepped up with a chance to add to the lead, but she grounded out to third.
South Carolina left nine runners on base in the game, including at least one in each of the first five innings. Three of those came in the fourth, when Cagney Davis walked with two outs and Redondo followed with a single. Stubblefield drew a free pass to load the bases for Payne, who grounded out to end the inning.
Reliever Terri Mesko got the win for the Cougars, throwing 2.2 innings of perfect relief, fanning five in the process. Freshman Audrey Broyles got the loss, allowing two earned runs and seven hits in six innings. She struck out one. Mendes was the bright spot in the South Carolina lineup, collecting three of the five hits. The loss for the Gamecocks was the first against the College of Charleston in nine meetings.
The Gamecocks return to action on Friday at the UCF Early Bird Tournament in Orlando, Fla., taking on Kansas at 11 a.m. at the UCF Softball Complex.
