April 13, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Danielle Quinones was the hot bat for South Carolina (33-12, 14-6 SEC) as she combined for 4-for-6, recorded four RBIs and scored one run in the Gamecocks doubleheader 4-0, 5-0 sweep over Kentucky (19-22, 3-11 SEC). Both Megan Matthews and Stacey Johnson pitched complete game shutouts and gave up a combined six hits.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one, Quinones drove in her first run of the day for Carolina in the second, when she connected on an RBI single to score Melissa Sandel. In the sixth, USC lead off the inning with two singles before the junior catcher added to the lead by hitting a two-out, two-RBI single to give the Gamecocks the 4-0 lead and eventual win.

Matthews (17-5) recorded her tenth shutout of the season as she gave up four hits, one walk and struck out four. Matthews’ is now just eight strikeouts away from setting the USC all-time strikeout record.

In game two, the Gamecocks jumped on the board in the third inning with an RBI-triple by Quinones, which drove in Adrianna Baggetta. In the fifth, Kristin Hall led off the inning by driving a single up the middle. Pinch runner Nancy Crane eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Kim Evans and USC’s second run of the inning came when Amber Curtis singled to score Quinones.

Up 3-0 in the sixth, Meghan Cornett hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to give USC all they would need, a 5-0 lead. Johnson then retired all three batters in the seventh as she earned the win and improved to 10-5.

The series will conclude tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Beckham Field.