Feb. 22, 2006
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jacqueline Wetherbee hit an RBI single in the sixth inning to score Darcy Norem and gave the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4) a 2-1 win over the Charlotte 49ers (1-4) in a single-game matchup Wednesday afternoon. USC recorded its two runs on six hits off of Kristen Bowen (1-1), who took the loss for Charlotte. Christie Hamilton (5-2) started the game at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with an RBI, then took over pitching duties in the third inning and picked up the win for the Gamecocks. Wetherbee also went 2-for-3 and recorded an RBI.
South Carolina was down 1-0 after Charlotte’s Cee Brooks hit a solo home run off of Kate Pouliot in the second inning. The Garnet and Black returned the favor in the third inning when Hamilton doubled to drive in Ashton Payne and tied the score 1-1. Payne led off the inning with a single and stole second, her fifth of the year, before she scored the run.
The Gamecocks’ eventual winning run reached base when Ashley Smith drew a one-out walk in the sixth. Norem then came into the game to pinch run for Smith. Norem advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Martinez and eventually scored on the single by Wetherbee.
In the bottom of the seventh, Charlotte hoped for a rally, but Hamilton and the Gamecocks recorded a 1-2-3 inning as the 49ers’ batters grounded out three times to end the game.
Brooks went two for three for the 49ers, while Evan Miller, Kaycie Jones and Kristi Killough each recorded a hit. The Gamecocks recorded two doubles in the game, one each by Hamilton and Becky Martinez.
South Carolina extends its win streak over the 49ers to 23 consecutive games and is now 28-2 overall in the series.
USC returns home Feb., 25-26 for the Gamecock Invitational. Participating in the tournament are N.C. State, Fordham and Georgia Southern.
