Feb. 10, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Freshman pitcher Christie Hamilton (1-0) won her college debut as she led the Gamecocks to a 2-0 win over the Purdue Boilermakers in the opening round of the Worth Invitational. Hamilton threw a complete game, allowed five hits and recorded six strikeouts in her first collegiate shutout. Whitney Wierzbicki scored the first run of the day on an RBI single by Lisa Longo in the third inning.
The Gamecocks recorded five hits, but struggled defensively as they registered four errors. USC was able to take advantage of two Purdue errors as Wierzbicki recorded the first hit of the day and advanced to second on an error, which put her in position to score on a single from Longo. Ashton Payne scored in the seventh after leading off the inning with a hit and advancing on a sac. An error by Ashley Hall allowed the rightfielder to add a cushion run for the Gamecocks.
The Boilermakers had opportunities to score and threatened in the third with the bases loaded but USC was able to get out of the jam as Staci Falzon grounded out to first to end the inning. In the seventh, the Boilermakers were down by two runs, after two Gamecock errors gave Purdue runners at second and third. USC survived as Hamilton escaped the inning unscathed by fanning Tiffany Krcelich to end the game and claim the victory.
South Carolina is now 18-2 in season openers and has won its last six. Brooke Baker (0-1) took the loss for Purdue as she gave up two runs on five hits, walked two and struckout eight.
