March 13, 2002
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina improved to 19-7 and swept a doubleheader for the fourth time this season as they defeated Furman (5-8) 8-0 and 7-0. Megan Matthews (11-2) allowed one hit and pitched her eighth shutout of the season while Stacey Johnson (5-3) and Aleca Johnson combined for their second shutout of the year.
Adrianna Baggetta and Melissa Sandel led the way for the Gamecocks as Baggetta went 3-for-4 in game one with two RBIs and one run while in game two, Sandel went 2-for-4, scored two runs and tied an individual season high, four RBIs. Additional offensive support came from shortstop Amber Curtis who combined for 4-for-5, three runs and one RBI.
In game one, USC attacked the Lady Paladins from the beginning as they scored in every inning but two, and tied the team season high for hits in a single game with 13. Up 2-0, Samantha Jennings hit her third home run of the season, a two-run shot, to give Carolina a 4-0 lead. The home run was the Gamecocks 11th of the season. USC scored another run in the fourth as Kim Evans scored on a bases loaded error. Ahead 5-0 in the sixth, USC struck again and scored three more runs to take a 8-0 lead and end the game in mercy rule. The win was the Gamecocks fifth mercy-rule victory of the year. Furman starter Rachel Henley (3-2) allowed four runs off of six hits for the loss.
Carolina remained on fire in game two as they recorded six hits and batted through the entire lineup in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Furman threatened in the fifth when they loaded the bases with two singles and a walk off of Stacey Johnson. With no outs, Aleca Johnson came in for relief and rescued USC out of the jam. The freshman pitcher came in and retired the next three batters to end the inning and save the Gamecocks lead.
The Lady Paladins managed to quiet Carolina’s bats for four innings before USC struck again. With two outs, Sandel hit a three-RBI triple to give the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, Furman’s Kelli Leachman led off the inning with a single to left field but a line out and two strikeouts by Johnson ended the Paladins hopes of scoring a run.
Furman’s Kristy Goodrich (1-3) picked up the loss in game two as she allowed three runs on seven hits in three innings.
The Gamecocks have recorded at least one shutout game in every series or tournament so far this season except for against two teams, Charlotte and North Carolina.
Carolina returns to SEC play and travel to Starkville, Miss. March 16-17 to play Mississippi State. Game times are scheduled for noon (CT) on both days.
