March 29, 2003

Auburn, Ala. – South Carolina connected on nine hits for 12 runs to defeat the Auburn Tigers 12-1 in five innings of game one of a Saturday doubleheader. Carolina improved to 23-7 overall and 7-2 in the SEC while Auburn fell to 18-19 and 6-7 in the SEC. Debralee Troesh recorded a season high five RBI as she went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. Stacey Johnson improved to 10-4 as she held the Tigers to one run on two hits in five innings pitched.

Auburn took the lead first when Kasey Angulo hit her first home run of the season in the second inning and put the Tigers up 1-0. The solo shot fired up the Gamecocks as Carolina returned in the top of the third and connected on five hits to score five runs and notched a 5-1 lead. Carolina batted around and took advantage of sloppy defensive plays by Auburn. Nancy Crane led off the inning by reaching first on an error by the Tigers and Kim Evans followed with a single. Both would score on a double by Amber Curtis and give USC a 2-1 lead. Carolina added to the lead when Troesh hit a double down the left field line to drive in two more runs. Up 4-1, Melissa Sandel singled to score Troesh.

In the fourth, Meghan Cornett belted a three-run homer, her second of the season, to put Carolina up 10-1. The home run was USC’s 21st on the season. The Gamecocks added two more runs in the fifth as two runs scored on a fielder’s choice play by Troesh, giving Carolina its final 12-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Johnson sat the Tigers down in order for the third straight inning to shut down any Auburn rally.

Carolina’s 12 runs, is the most runs scored against an SEC team this season, and the second most runs scored all season. USC recorded 13 runs against Troy State back on March 1.