April 26, 2003
Oxford, Miss. – It came down to the seventh inning as sophomore Kristin Hall provided the lone run in Carolina’s game two 1-0 victory over Ole Miss. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Hall launched her second home run of the season over the left field fence as USC swept the Rebels in the Saturday doubleheader and improved to 36-14 and 18-9 in the SEC. The Rebels fell to 17-32 overall and 6-20 in the SEC. Melanie Henkes (16-3) earned the win for the Gamecocks while Leslie Day (5-9) took the loss for Ole Miss.
The home run was the 33rd for the season for Carolina and now the Gamecocks are just two long balls away from tying the school record for home runs in a single season. USC set the record last year when they recorded 35.
Carolina recorded five hits while Ole Miss posted four. USC recorded their first hit in the second inning when Melissa Sandel hit a double then registered the third hit in the third inning when Jodi Fittro singled. The Gamecocks would not record another hit until the sixth inning when Danielle Quinones hit a two-out double. USC’s final two hits came in the seventh, one was Hall’s home run and the other was a single by Nancy Crane.
Ole Miss threatened in the fifth when they had no outs and the bases loaded, but shortstop Desi Layman grounded out to Henkes who made a play at home to throw out pinch runner Jenny Cox. Catcher Ashley Smith then turned the double play as she threw to first to throw out Lyman for the second out of the inning. Megan Kozar then grounded out to second for the third out as USC kept the game scoreless.
Hall broke the scoreless game in the top of the seventh as she hit her second home run this season over the left field fence. On a 0-1 count, Hall smacked a solo shot to give USC a 1-0 lead. With an outstanding catch in right field by Melissa Sandel, Henkes would return in the seventh and would retire the Rebels in order.
The two teams will wrap up the series in game three on Sunday, April 27. Please note that the game time has been changed to noon (CST).
