March 23, 2002

BATON ROUGE, La. – South Carolina’s Meghan Cornett and Debralee Troesh recorded USC’s only hits in game one as the 24th-ranked Gamecocks lost 6-0, while defensive mistakes in the fourth inning propelled LSU over the Gamecocks 8-0 in a mercy-rule game two victory. In the two games, USC combined for five hits and no runs. The Gamecocks fell to 21-10 overall and 4-4 in the SEC while 5th-ranked LSU improved to 23-7 and 8-2 in the SEC.

In the first three innings, LSU All-American Britni Sneed (12-4) struck out Carolina’s first eight of nine batters while Debralee Troesh was the only hitter to put the ball in play as she grounded out to the second baseman in the second inning. Megan Matthews (12-3) and USC’s defense kept the game close in the early innings as the Gamecocks forced four outs on the base paths including two at home plate. In the second inning with two outs, Amber Curtis threw out Tessa Lynam at home to prevent LSU to score.

USC’s second play at the plate came in the fourth when Troesh connected with Quinones to throw out Julie Wiese for the second out of the inning. The Tigers next two batters reached base on fielder’s choices and with two outs, pinch hitter Erin Johnson singled to load the bases. Leigh Ann Danos then pinch hit for Blair Smith and with a 3-1 count, was walked by Matthews, which allowed Megann Steege to score and give LSU a 1-0 lead.

The Gamecocks finally broke up Sneed’s perfect game in the fifth inning when Meghan Cornett hit a two out loop single to left field. Adrianna Baggetta followed when she was hit by a pitch, giving USC their only two base runners for an inning in the game. However, Carolina’s chances were cut short when Sneed struck out Samantha Jennings for her 11th of the game.

The Gamecocks managed their second and final hit of the game when Quinones led off the sixth with a double to left centerfield. USC threatened to score as Fittro advanced Quinones’ pinch runner Nancy Crane to third on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, the Gamecocks had a chance to tie the game but Sneed continued to be a dominate force and struck out Kim Evans and Curtis looking, to end the inning and leave Crane stranded at third.

LSU exploded in the sixth as they scored five runs on four hits and one error. The Tigers led off with a single and a walk to earn to base runners then Matthews struck out Lynam looking and LSU’s Kristin Smith fouled out to third base. With two outs, LSU then followed with two singles and a three-RBI triple by Tina Peel to take a solid 5-0 lead. The Tigers final run came when Peel scored on an error by Curtis. Sneed retired all three batters in the Carolina 7th to record her 12th victory of the year.

Game two remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Tigers scored seven runs to take a 7-0 lead. LSU batted through their lineup and only recorded two of their five hits in the fourth but the Tigers were able to capitalize on USC defensive mistakes as the Gamecocks allowed three passed balls, three walks, a wild pitch and two errors in the inning.

Carolina was able to get three more base runners in during the rest of the game as Jennings reached base on an error by LSU’s Smith in the fifth and in the sixth, Kim Evans singled to record the Gamecocks third and final hit of the game. Curtis followed by reaching on another error by LSU but Troesh grounded into a double play to end the inning and USC’s chance to score.

In the sixth, Trena Peel hit her second triple of the day which scored Jennie Reeves and gave LSU a 8-0 mercy-rule victory. Stacey Johnson (6-5) recorded the loss for the Gamecocks and Kristin Schmidt (8-3) earned the win for LSU.

The Gamecocks return to action on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT). The game can be followed on the Internet at www.lsusports.net.