Feb. 14, 2003

Henderson, Nev. – Four UCLA home runs handed South Carolina (5-2) its second loss of the season as the Gamecocks fell to the Bruins (6-1) 12-0 at the Las Vegas Invitational. The shut out is the first for Carolina this season. Freshman Melanie Henkes (3-1) suffered her first loss as she gave up six runs in three innings. The Gamecocks recorded only two hits as Nancy Crane hit a bunt in the third inning and Jodi Fittro singled in the fifth.

Down 6-0 in the third, the Gamecocks had a chance to break the shut out when the bases were loaded with no outs, but UCLA’s Keira Goerl (5-1) retired the next three batters to keep Carolina scoreless.

The Bruins went ahead 9-0 in the fourth when Toria Auela hit a three-run homer off of Gamecocks reliever Aleca Johnson. Taria Mims added a two run shot in the top of the fifth to give UCLA a 12-0 lead and the mercy-rule victory. UCLA recorded 13 hits off of the Gamecocks, the most Carolina has allowed this season.

USC continues play this afternoon when they face the host school UNLV at 4:30 p.m.