May 20, 2004
TUCSON, Ariz. – A seventh-inning two-out RBI double by Danyele Gomez lifted the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 1-0 over the South Carolina Gamecocks in first-round action of the NCAA Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. Thursday afternoon. Ashley Smith recorded the lone hit for the Gamecocks, a lead-off single in the second. Stacey Johnson pitched a solid game but had to take the loss and fell to 16-13. Johnson recorded nine strikeouts and had two walks. USC will now play the loser of the Arizona vs. Centenary game Friday morning at noon (EDT).
Brooke Mitchell recorded the win for ULL as she struck out eight Gamecock batters and gave up two walks. USC is now in the loser’s bracket and one more loss ends the season.
The Gamecocks had a chance to score in the fourth inning when Meghan Cornett led off with a walk to give USC their second base runner of the game. Cornett advanced to third on an attempted bunt by McKenna Hughes, but a throwing error by third baseman Gomez allowed both runners to be safe. A groundout by Smith advanced Hughes to second with one out but Chrissy Schoonmaker and Amber Curtis both flew out to end the inning and strand the runners.
In the fifth, USC had another scoring opportunity but fell short again as they had runners at first and second but a strikeout by Cornett left the Gamecocks scoreless.
It looked as if ULL would take the lead in the sixth when Ashley Evans and Joy Webre hit back-to-back singles with one out to give the Cajuns runners in scoring position. A ground out by Lacey Bertucci gave the Gamecocks hope and with two outs and runners at third and second, Johnson struck out pinch hitter Leslie Pierce to end the inning and preserve the scoreless tie.
ULL did strike in the seventh. Tankersley drew a two-out walk before Gomez hit a looper, that was misplayed by Hughes in left field, to drive in Tankersley for the eventual winning run. Johnson got the Gamecocks out of the inning when she struck out Brittany Bryant for the final out.
The Gamecocks faded in the seventh as they went down in order to end the game. ULL improved to 56-6 while Mitchell improved to 42-3.
