May 20, 2007
NCAA Regional
Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina vs. Oregon
Championship Game
South Carolina
South Carolina improved to 38-24 on the season and advanced to the 2007 NCAA Super Regional to face Northwestern. The Gamecocks eliminated two teams in the Columbia Regional who had 40+ victories in the 2007 season.
McKenna Hughes’ double in the first inning was her 12th of the season and the 39th of her career. The 39 doubles are tied for the seventh-most in USC history. Debralee Troesh had 39 doubles from 1999-2003.
Jessica Josker went 3-for-4 in the Championship Game against Oregon with one RBI. The RBI was the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Josker drove in five runs in the final three regional games. Josker had at least one hit in all five regional games. Josker went 5-for-7 in the two games on Sunday against Oregon.
Ashton Payne went 6-for-10 in the three games against Oregon. Her triple was her fourth of the season and her first since March 14 against Virginia Tech.
The win was the 20th on the season for Melissa Hendon. Hendon is Carolina’s first 20-game winner since the 2002 season.
South Carolina was one of three No. 4 seeds playing in their Regional Championship (Tennessee Tech, Loyola Marymount) and they are also one of seven SEC teams playing for their Regional Championship. The SEC had eight teams in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
Oregon
Oregon is eliminated from the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
Oregon finishes the season with a 44-19 record on the season. The 44 wins are the second most win total in Oregon history.
Oregon is now 3-2 all-time against South Carolina. The Ducks won on Saturday, May 19th against South Carolina 8-4 to advance to Sunday’s Championship game. The lost dropped Carolina to the losers bracket where they eliminated NC State on Saturday night 4-3.
