March 5, 2005
Marietta, Ga. – The Gamecock softball team scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat Boston University 7-6 at the Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga. Friday afternoon. A triple by Chrissy Schoonmaker ended up making the difference as she drove in two runs and scored on an error to give the Gamecocks seven runs for the game. Reliever Aleca Johnson recorded the win and improved to 2-0 on the year while Melanie Henkes picked up her first save of the season.
In the top of the ninth, Lisa Longo doubled to score McKenna Hughes and put USC up 4-3. Becky Martinez then followed with a single before Schoonmaker came to the plate. She tripled deep to right field allowing Longo and Hughes to come home. On an attempt to record an out, the BU second baseman threw the ball into the dugout and Schoonmaker came home and put USC up 7-3.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Terriers rallied back. Johnson, who entered the game in the eighth inning, struck out the first two batters before the rally began. Tyler Benson singled up the middle and advanced baserunner Jenni Shields to third. With runners at the corners, Jamie Haas then homered and cut the Gamecocks’ lead to one.
Carolina then re-entered Henkes in an attempt keep Boston at bay and nab the final out. Henkes gave up a double to Chiya Louie but a ground out by DeKenya Williams got USC out of the inning and preserved the one run lead and the win for the Gamecocks. For the game, Henkes pitched 7.2 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. Johnson pitched 1.1 innings to earn the win, allowed three runs on two hits and struck out four of the six batters she faced.
USC jumped on the board early when Jessica Josker led off with a hit and eventually scored on an RBI single by Hughes.
The Terriers loaded the bases in the second with one out. Henkes then struck out Josey Mendez for the second out but then Benson hit a short single to second to drive in Erin McDonald and tie the game 1-1. USC was able to get an out on the play however and caught Shields in a rundown at third base.
After a throwing error by Mendez in the third allowed Ashley Smith to advance all the way to second base, Longo doubled to score Smith’s pinch runner Darcy Norem. USC then went ahead 2-1.
In the fourth, USC had two outs and a runner at second with Smith up to bat. Smith then hit a deep fly ball to center field but Louie made a diving catch and knocked down the fence to rob Smith of a home run and ended the inning.
Boston tied the game in the fifth when Benson, who walked to reach base, scored on a single by Haas.
The tiebreaker rule went into effect in the eighth and Margaret Person, who was placed at second, eventually scored on a single by Josker and put USC up 3-2. The Gamecocks had another chance to score with two outs and two runners on but a pop fly by Smith stranded the runners and ended the inning. Boston tied the game once again in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by Liz Alley.
For the game, the two teams combined for 23 hits, 13 by USC and 10 by Boston. USC left 14 runners on base while Boston left eight.
Team 123 456 789 R H E
USC 101 000 014 7 13 2
BU 010 010 013 6 10 2
WP: Johnson (2-0)
LP: Freeman (0-3)
S: Henkes (1)
