March 1, 2002

PLANT CITY, Fla. – The Gamecocks softball team opened up the Plant City Tournament with a loss to eighth-ranked Michigan 5-0 and a 9-1 mercy rule against Ohio. Megan Matthews returned to the lineup today but recorded her second loss of the season while Aleca Johnson improved to 2-1 on the year.

The Wolverines’ win came as a result of an explosive third inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Matthews hit batter Monica Schock to force in Michigan’s first run. That would eventually be all the Wolverines would need however, pitcher Marissa Young provided her team cushion runs when she hit her third homerun of the season, a grand slam, to give Michigan a 5-0 lead. Matthews only gave up three hits while the Gamecocks were held to just two. Carolina’s two hits were singles from Samantha Jennings and Debralee Troesh. With that hit, Troesh extended her hitting streak to 10 games.

Against Ohio, the Gamecocks came from behind in the second to tie the game, as Melissa Sandel hit an RBI double to score Kristin Hall, who reached base on a two out error. USC then took a 2-1 lead when Sandel scored on a double by Robyn Johnson.

Carolina was rescued from a big inning when freshman Aleca Johnson came in for relief in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Johnson struck out Kiersten Scrima and Erin Chapman fouled out to first base to retire the side, keeping USC ahead.

Amber Curtis added to the Gamecocks lead as she hit her third homerun of the season, a three-run shot to left field, lifting Carolina’s lead 5-1. USC earned two more runs in the third as R. Johnson was hit by a pitch, forcing Adrianna Baggetta to score, and Hall scored on an error by Tiffany Bolton.

USC finished the game by scoring two more runs in the fifth to mercy rule the Bobcats 9-1. Ohio fell to 3-4 four on the season while the Gamecocks improved to 10-6.

Carolina resumes play in the Plant City Tournament tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. when they face Missouri.