Feb. 18, 2005
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Gamecock softball team took another turn at the Seminole Tournament as USC lost 4-2 to the 18th-ranked Florida State Seminoles. After rallying to tie the game in the fifth inning, the Gamecocks could not hold FSU. USC is now 7-4 while the Seminoles improves to 5-4. McKenna Hughes continued to have the hot bat for Carolina as she went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Jessica Barnes took the loss and fell to 3-2 while Casey Hunter improved to 2-3.
FSU was able to register a hit in every inning except the sixth while the Gamecocks recorded a hit in each inning but the second, fourth and seventh. USC had four players record hits including a bunt single by Margaret Person, her first of the year.
The Seminoles scored first as they went on top in the fourth. Melissa Wood led off with a single up the middle and Brittany Osman followed with a walk. An error by Hughes advanced the runners to second and third before Veronica Wootson singled to drive in the two runs.
The Gamecocks rallied in the fifth as Whitney Wierzbicki led off with a double and Jessica Josker, who represented the tying run, continued with a short infield single. Meghan Cornett then hit a sacrifice to advance Wierzbicki and Josker and then with one out, Hughes came through with a double to right field and drove in the two runs and tied the score 2-2.
In the sixth, the Gamecocks had a chance to take the lead as Darcy Norem walked and Person bunted safely, giving USC runners at first and second. With only one out, the attempt would fall short from there as the Hunter retired the next two Gamecock batters with a strikeout and a foul out.
The Seminoles led off the seventh with a bunt single and were able to capitalize on an error by Cornett. With two runners on, Lesley Palmer hit a double to center field and drove in Whitney Buckmon and Tatiana George to take the 4-2 lead. Carolina was able to get out of the inning on a heads up play in left field by Person. Osman flied out to Person and then Person threw home to throw out Palmer, who was at third, to end the inning.
The Garnet and Black could get nothing across in the bottom of the seventh as they recorded two ground outs and a strikeout and went down in order.
Florida State is the first ranked team the Gamecocks have played this season. The Gamecocks continue in the tournament Saturday morning when they face Syracuse at 10 a.m.
Team 123 456 7 R H E
FSU 000 200 2 4 8 0
USC 000 020 0 2 6 2
WP: Hunter (2-3)
LP: Barnes (3-2)
