April 29, 2011
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (25-25, 6-17 SEC) fought but dropped a 5-0 decision to No. 5/7 Florida (41-8, 16-7 SEC) on Friday night in front of 607 fans at Beckham Field.
The Gators struck in the second when Cheyenne Coyle hit the 3-2 pitch out to center for a two-run homer, scoring Tiffany DeFelice after she started the frame with a single. Florida struck again in the fifth, as Michelle Moultrie scored when Kelsey Bruder’s single got past the Gamecock centerfielder. Bruder went to third on the play and made it 4-0 when she touched home on Megan Bush’s sacrifice fly. The Gators added the final run in the seventh on Bush’s rope toward the left-field corner, scoring Bruder after her double.
After breezing through the first two innings, Florida starter Stephanie Brombacher (16-1) had trouble with a pair of patient Gamecocks in the third. Juniors Evan Childs and Lauren Lackey both drew walks around a liner to put two runners aboard for the top of the lineup. But Brombacher fought out of the frame with a fly to center and a strikeout.
South Carolina threatened again in the sixth, getting the first two runners aboard, starting with a leadoff walk that ended Brombacher’s night. With runners at second and third and none out, Gator reliever Hannah Rogers buckled down, getting a strikeout, a foul out and a grounder to escape without harm.
Brombacher went five innings, allowing three walks and a hit while striking out one to get the win. Gamecock redshirt sophomore starter Audrey Broyles (6-8) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on four hits and a walk in four innings. She struck out two.
Moultrie and Bruder stood as the only players with multiple hits, and both had doubles. Gamecock junior leftfielder Kaitlin Westfall collected the only Gamecock extra-base hit with a double with one down in the fourth. Sophomore rightfielder Hannah Milks and Lackey also had singles on the night.
The series resumes on Saturday, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. EDT at Beckham Field. The Gamecocks will honor their seniors in pregame festivities starting 10 minutes before the game. FOX Sports Florida will show the game on a tape-delay basis, starting at 4 p.m. And all fans coming to the game from northeast Columbia should make plans to avoid the eastern part of Rosewood Drive, as it will be blocked off for the Rosewood Crawfish Festival all day.
