April 6, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (28-11, 9-5) combined for 12 hits and seven runs as they defeated the Auburn Tigers (26-17, 5-9) in a doubleheader at Beckham Field today. Melissa Sandel hit her third home run of the season, while in game two, reliever Aleca Johnson picked up her second SEC victory as she pitched three innings, allowed one hit and struck out five.

The Garnet and Black took an early lead in game one with three consecutive singles in the first inning, including an RBI shot to center field by Amber Curtis to score Jodi Fittro. With USC up 3-0 in the third, Auburn had a chance to score with one on and two outs as Ashley Moore singled to left field. Adrianna Baggetta then threw for a play at the plate, but the runner was held at third, and Quinones gunned down Moore at second base for the third out of the inning. In the sixth with zero outs, the Tigers rallied for a big inning as two USC errors and a hit allowed AU to load the bases. Matthews then buckled down and threw six straight strikes to retire the next two batters, however, shortstop Martha Phillips singled to drive in two runs, cutting Carolina’s lead to one.

The Gamecocks answered in the bottom half of the inning as Sandel hit a solo blast to center field to put USC ahead, 4-2. Sandel’s homer was Carolina’s fourth in three games and the 20th overall for the season. Matthews improved to 15-4 as she pitched her 17th complete game for the season. She gave up two runs on six hits and struck out seven. Auburn’s Jen Lofton fell to 9-9.

In game two, USC once again took an early 1-0 lead as they scored on an error in the first. Auburn then tied the game in the fourth with two outs when Kelly Sutton, who singled to reach base, scored on a wild pitch by Stacey Johnson. Johnson pitched four innings and gave up one run on two hits before she was replaced. In the fifth, Aleca Johnson came in to pitch with the game tied. Auburn threatened again with two out and two on, but Johnson struck out Sutton to retire the side and gave the Gamecocks a chance to go for the lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Amber Curtis hit an RBI double to score Fittro, who lead off the inning with a single, and gave USC a 2-1 lead. Curtis would eventually score later in the inning as she made it home on a two out, 1-2 count, wild pitch, by Kristin Keyes. That would be all Carolina would need as Johnson retired the next six batters, including four strikeouts.

Johnson improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the SEC while Keyes fell to 12-8. Although Keyes recorded the loss, the sophomore recorded five strikeouts and tied Auburn’s single season strikeout record with 132.

The two teams return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. for game three of the series.