March 26, 2005
Auburn, Ala. – South Carolina softball jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but that would be all the Gamecocks would record as No. 25 Auburn took game two of the doubleheader and beat USC 11-2 in five innings. USC has now lost seven straight to the Tigers and has a current four-game losing streak. The Gamecocks are now 20-14 and 5-5 in the SEC while Auburn improves to 32-9 and 8-3 in the conference.
Lisa Longo and Chrissy Schoonmaker both went 2-for-3 for the Gamecocks while Stefanie Norman and Schoonmaker each drove in a run. Kate Pouliot took the loss and fell to 5-5 while Beth DiPietro improved to 16-4. Pouliot gave up 11 runs on 12 hits while USC recorded their two runs off of eight hits against DiPietro.
The Gamecocks appeared to have control of the game as they took the early lead. Longo led off with a single followed by Meghan Cornett who reached on a fielder’s choice and McKenna Hughes who walked to load the bases. Norman then came through with a single to drive in Longo for the first run of the game. Schoonmaker later followed with a one-out RBI single to center field and scored Cornett.
Auburn roared back in the next two innings as they posted a six-run second and a five-run third to establish the win. Holly Currie and Lolani Alvarez combined for three home runs and six RBIs off of Pouliot. Alvarez had two home runs, a two-run blast in the second and a solo homer in the third, while Currie hit a three-run shot in the second. Currie went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Alvarez went 2-for-3 with four RBIs.
USC was able to get runners on base but had trouble getting them across the plate. The Gamecocks left 10 runners on base as they left the bases loaded in the first, second and the fifth innings.
Jessica Josker ended her hitting slump as she looped a two-out single in the fifth to snap her hitless streak at five games.
This marks the fourth straight game the Gamecocks have allowed more than 10 hits in a game, fifth since conference play started. Prior to SEC play, USC had only allowed 10 or more hits in three games total.
With the win, Auburn clinches the series and USC will try to snap its losing streak when the two teams meet for game three Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET).
Team 123 45 R H E
USC 200 00 2 8 1
AUB 065 0X 11 12 1
WP: DiPietro (16-4)
LP: Pouliot (5-5)
