April 20, 2002

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

Gainesville, Fla. – It was a bittersweet moment for the Gamecocks (34-14, 15-8 SEC) as senior pitcher Megan Matthews became South Carolina’s all-time career strikeout leader, but Carolina errors allowed Florida (29-29, 9-14 SEC) to take a 2-0 lead in the three-game series. Matthews (18-6, 8-4 SEC) pitched seven and one-third innings, as she gave up one unearned run on seven hits and struck out five, to move past the USC all-time record of 1,032 and collect 1,035 career strikeouts. Florida scored all three runs on errors as they defeated USC 1-0 in eight innings in game one and 2-1 in game two.

In game one, Matthews’ tied the all-time record as Florida’s Katie Berger struck out looking for the second strikeout of the first inning. Matthews would not break the record until the sixth inning, when Florida was threatening with two outs and a runner at first, and Prissie Walden struck out looking.

The Gamecocks had several chances to score as they went three straight innings with runners in scoring position, but failed to get a run across. The game remained scoreless through the seventh, as the Gators threatened in the inning. Stacy Rosen was hit by a pitch and Mandy Schuerman was intentionally walked to load the bases. Matthews forced Jenilee Garner to fly out to centerfield to get USC out of the jam and forced extra-innings.

In the top of the eighth, USC once again had a chance to score, as Jodi Fittro made it to second base on an error by Walden. With two outs, Amber Curtis then singled to left field and Fittro tried to run home, but Florida left fielder Jessie Franklin made a heads up play and threw out Fittro at home to end the inning.

The Gators struck in the bottom half as they recorded two one-out singles off of Matthews. Pinch runner Jackie Marchetta stole third and then scored as Danielle Quinones over threw to third base, giving Florida the 1-0 victory. USC managed only four hits off of Florida’s Amanda Knowles, who improved to 11-8 overall and 3-5 in the SEC.

In the second inning of game two, Florida took a 1-0 lead when Garner, who led off the inning with a double, was at third and scored when USC’s Stacey Johnson overthrew the ball at the plate.

Florida’s second run of the game came in the fifth on two outs, when Debralee Troesh dropped a routine pop fly to keep the inning alive and Stacy Rosen scored from second base.

Down 2-0, Carolina attempted a rally in the sixth as Kim Evans and Curtis led off the inning with two singles. Both runners advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Troesh and with one out, Meghan Cornett hit an RBI ground out to first base, which allowed Evans to score and cut the lead in half.

After Johnson retired all three batters in the Florida sixth, Carolina had one more attempt in the seventh. USC had three base runners in the inning but it wasn’t enough as Sandel, who pinch ran for Tia Rogers, was thrown out on a second on a fielder’s choice and Quinones grounded to short for the second out. Fittro reached on a bunt but a ground out by Evans ended the game and Forida won 2-1.

Johnson (10-6, 4-4 SEC) pitched her eighth complete game of the season and gave up two unearned runs on four hits. Florida’s Amanda Moore (10-12, 2-5 SEC) pitched a complete game, gave up seven hits and one earned run for the victory. Adrianna Baggetta was the only USC player to record a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 in game two.

Carolina still leads the Florida series 15-10 and is now 4-2 in Gainesville. The series concludes Sunday at noon (EDT) and can be followed through live stats at www.uscsports.com.