Feb. 13, 2011
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Despite a three-hit outing from sophomore shortstop Samie Garcia, South Carolina (3-1) could not solve USC Upstate’s Morgan Childers, as the Spartans (4-0) took home a 3-2 win over the Gamecocks, claiming the 2011 Palmetto State Showdown title on Sunday afternoon at Beckham Field.
Garcia led the Gamecocks with those three hits while adding an RBI. Senior catcher P.J. Fulmer added an RBI while going 2-for-2 with a double.
Childers went the distance, tossing 140 pitches while striking out 12 and allowing two earned runs on eight hits and two walks. Katie Zauner, the tournament’s MVP, drove in all three Spartan runs during her 2-for-4 day.
Fulmer’s double in the second gave the Gamecocks the initial lead. With two down, Fulmer sent a flare toward the left-field line that glanced off the glove of USC Upstate’s left fielder and landed just inside the line, allowing pinch runner Kylie Morin to score from third. But the Spartans tied things in the top of the third on Zauner’s ground out, which allowed Kim Brasil to score from third.
Zauner struck again with two down in the fifth, driving the first pitch she saw in the at bat over the wall in left center. The two-run blast also plated Ericka Harris, who was hit by the previous pitch.
The Gamecocks mounted a comeback bid in the sixth, getting a leadoff double from junior third baseman Kelley Dillon. After a strikeout, Fulmer got plunked, putting runners on first and second. A failed sacrifice attempt put the Gamecocks against the wall, but Garcia came through with a single, scoring Dillon. With the runners moving to second and third on the throw home, the Gamecocks had the tying run just 60 feet away. But Childers sat down the next hitter to escape without more damage.
South Carolina tried one more time in the seventh, getting back-to-back singles from juniors Evan Childs and Molly Brossart with one down. Once again, Childers rose to the occasion, getting a strikeout and a foul out to end the inning, game and weekend.
Redshirt sophomore Audrey Broyles (0-1) took the loss, giving up the three earned runs on four hits and two walks while fanning four. It was the first start for Broyles since March 10, 2010, prior to the surgery that ended her season.
Joining MVP Zauner and Childers on the all-tournament team from USC Upstate were Ericka Harris and Cheyanna Olhrich. Garcia, senior Laura Mendes and freshman pitcher Julie Sarratt represented South Carolina on the team, while Melissa Adams and Megan Lombard of Charleston Southern were also on the squad. Winthrop’s Veronica Berrie and Natalie Becker, Coastal Carolina’s Sarah Maples and Furman’s Lauren Collier rounded out the team.
The Gamecocks return to Beckham Field on Wed., Feb. 16, to take on the Winthrop Eagles. First pitch for the single game is slated for 3 p.m.
