March 15, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Gamecocks rattled off six runs on 12 hits to defeat the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 6-1 Wednesday afternoon at Beckham Field. The Gamecocks snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 18-8, while EKU fell to 10-10.
Freshman Christie Hamilton struck out 12 to record her tenth win of the season, while Jessica Josker and McKenna Hughes each went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Hughes hit a two-home run to notch the 18th of her career and now ranks third all-time among USC leaders. Kelsey Anderson took the loss for the Colonels and fell to 6-4.
Tied 1-1 in the sixth, South Carolina exploded with a five-run inning as USC recorded five hits to establish the lead. Pinch runner Darcy Norem scored on an RBI single by Ashton Payne to take the lead. With runners at first and second, Josker doubled to drive in two more runs. Hughes then followed with her home run to extend the lead 6-1. The Gamecocks recorded a hit in every inning except the fifth.
USC came out ready to play as they connected on three straight hits with one out to load the bases in the first. A sacrifice fly to centerfield by Jacqueline Wetherbee provided USC a run and the 1-0 lead.
EKU spoiled the Gamecocks’ shutout in the top of the fifth when Becky Werle hit a two-out solo home run off of Hamilton on a 0-2 count and tied the game.
The Colonels managed four hits off of Hamilton. In addition to Werle, Alex Merrell, Anderson and Kalyn Fox accounted for the remaining Colonel hits.
South Carolina returns to action this weekend when they host Kentucky in a three-game SEC series. This marks the home conference opener for the Gamecocks.
