March 5, 2005
Marietta, Ga. – Freshman pitcher Kate Pouliot (1-2) earned her first collegiate victory as South Carolina defeated Gardner-Webb 13-7 at the Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga. McKenna Hughes and Meghan Cornett had the hot bats for USC as they both went 3-for-4. Hughes scored three runs and had three RBI while Cornett scored one run and had four RBI.
Whitney Wierzbicki and Margaret Person also scored three runs while Jessica Josker went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Every inning USC recorded a hit, the Gamecocks scored. USC went down in order in the second and fourth innings.
The game was tied going into the fifth before USC had a four-run inning. The Gamecocks scored four runs on four hits and one error. The leading run came when left fielder Person reached on an error and scored on an RBI single by Cornett.
Up 10-7 in the ninth, the Gamecocks added three more runs with a Josker single and a triple by Cornett. That would be all Carolina would need as Melanie Henkes, who entered the game in relief in the sixth, retired the Bulldogs in order to clinch the victory. It marked the second save of the day and the season for Henkes.
USC recorded 13 hits in the game, giving them a total of 26 on the day. Pouliot pitched five innings and gave up six runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Henkes pitched two innings and gave up one run on one hit.
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday morning at 11 a.m. against Ohio State. USC will also take on South Dakota State at 1 p.m. Bracket play for the tournament begins Saturday night at 8 p.m.
Team 123 456 7 R H E
USC 202 042 3 13 13 1
GWU 012 121 0 7 8 5
WP: Pouliot (1-0)
LP: Beck (0-1)
S: Henkes (2)
