April 23, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – Freshman pitcher Melanie Henkes had a no-hitter and a perfect game for six solid innings as South Carolina defeated Furman 6-0 in game one of the doubleheader. Henkes (15-3) gave up her first and only hit of the game in the seventh inning as she recorded a career high 11 strikeouts. Senior Debralee Troesh became the all-time leader for home runs in a single season as she launched her 10th long ball of the season. The Gamecocks improved to 33-14 while the Lady Paladins fell to 18-23.

Carolina posted a three-run inning in the first as Ashley Smith singled to drive home Jodi Fittro and Amber Curtis. Up 2-0, Troesh, who reached base on an error, scored USC’s third run on a throwing error by Furman’s Joni Lockridge.

Troesh led off the third inning with her 11th career home run, a solo shot to centerfield, and put Carolina up 4-0. The home run was the 29th of the season for the Gamecocks. USC went up 5-0 when Kim Evans singled to left field to score Meghan Cornett.

USC continued to score in the sixth with one more run as Smith drove home her third run of the day and scored Curtis, giving USC a 6-0 lead.

Just three outs away from a perfect game, LaKerah Barr broke up Henkes’ no-hitter in the seventh. An infield single provided Furman their lone baserunner of the game.

The Gamecocks recorded six runs and nine hits off of Furman’s Rachel Henley, who fell to 8-11 on the year. Smith went 2-for-3 with three RBI’s while Curtis went 2-for-4 and scored two runs.