February 8, 2002

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Amber Curtis’ seventh inning home run gave USC their first win of the season against the Louisville Cardinals. The Gamecocks, playing in their first game of the Seminole Challenge, downed the Cardinals 3-2. South Carolina improves to 1-0, while Louisville drops to 0-1.

South Carolina jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning when freshman Aleca Johnson’s single drove in Kim Evans and Jodi Fittro. Walked by Cardinals’ pitcher Jessica Rak, Tia Rogers began the second inning rally. Following Rogers’ walk, Kim Evans reached first base off an error by Keola Claderon. Fittro advanced Evans with a single to left field. Danielle Troesh would eventually set up Fittro and Evans’ scoring opportunity.

In the fourth inning Calderon shrunk the Gamecock lead to one after scoring off an Estes single. Earlier in the inning, Calderon had reached second base of an error by left fielder Kim Evans. Louisville would eventually add one more run in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2.

After the Cardinals went scoreless in the top of the seventh and the game looked like it may go into extra-innings, shortstop Amber Curtis knocked the third pitch of the inning out of the park to give USC its first victory of the season.

Gamecock pitcher Megan Matthews posted five stikeouts, while only giving up one earned run. She improves to 1-0 on the season.

The Gamecocks return to action Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for day two of the Seminole Challenge. USC will face Florida Atlantic in the first game, followed by host Florida State in the second game. Live stats of both games can be found at www.seminoles.com.