Feb. 17, 2008
HENDERSON, Nev. – A Laura Mendes three-run home run was all the Gamecocks needed, as they downed Cal State Northridge, 3-2, in the team’s final game at the 2008 UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park. South Carolina improves to 4-7 on the season, while the Matadors fall to 2-7.
The Gamecocks got three runs in the third thanks to Mendes’ blast. Adele Voigt started the frame with a walk and moved to second on Ashton Payne’s sacrifice. A wild pitch moved Voigt to third just before Lisa Longo drew a walk. The freshman Mendes stepped in and drove the 0-1 pitch from Matatdor starter Samantha Schroder over the center-field fence for her first career round-tripper.
Northridge got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, executing a double steal to plate Jaclyn Rymer. She led off the inning with a double to left center and moved to third on Alexandria Alvarado’s single to left.
The CSUN comeback effort continued in the fifth, as another run came in on Amanda Peek’s RBI double. She moved to third on a wild pitch from Gamecock reliever Kate Pouliot and tried to score on Krystal Raphael’s squeeze bunt attempt. But third baseman Becky Martinez shoveled the ball to catcher P.J. Fulmer, who blocked the plate to get Peek out. Rymer tried to keep the inning going and reached on a mishandled grounder at first, but Longo recovered to throw out pinch runner Kristen Mihm at third to end the inning.
The Gamecocks had a chance to add to their lead in the fourth, as Payne leaded off the frame with a double. Longo followed with a walk and moved to second when Payne was picked off. A pop out preceded Semento’s intentional walk, which brought up Martinez. She got hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Carolina was unable to capitalize, as reliever Mercedes Lovato got Lindsay Walker to strike out to end the threat.
Carolina starter Krystle Robinson (2-2) worked out of trouble in the first before settling down. She loaded the bases with one out before she struck out Raphael and got Rymer to ground out to close the inning. Robinson went four innings, giving up three hits and two runs, both earned, while walking three and striking out five. Senior Melissa Hendon tossed the last two innings, giving up one hit and punching out four to pick up her second save. Schroeder (0-2) went 2.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out one.
The Gamecocks head south next weekend for the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament in Tampa, Fla., from Feb. 22-24.
