February 20, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 20th-ranked Carolina softball team (9-3) swept Charlotte (5-4) in a doubleheader today at Beckham Field. Megan Matthews improved to 4-1 while Shannon Carson fell to 1-2 and Carolina defeated the 49ers 9-1 in six innings in game one. Stacey Johnson earned her first save of the season. In game two, Aleca Johnson recorded her first career victory, as Carolina came from behind in the seventh to tie and beat Charlotte 3-2 in extra innings.

“I think we hit pretty well tonight. We were able to keep the pressure on offensively and string together several runs,” said head coach Joyce Compton. “Our freshman class is a great class and they are getting some key game experience. They are adjusting pretty well and that is great to see.”

The Gamecocks scored a season high nine runs in game one. Megan Cornett continued to perform well for Carolina as she went 3-for-4, including a homerun and a double, scored three runs and had two RBIs. Debralee Troesh went 2-for-3, scored one run and drove in three.

In game two, Charlotte took a 2-0 lead in the third as Autumn Lawson scored on an error by Carolina’s Danielle Quinones. The Gamecocks cut the lead in the bottom of the third as Cornett hit a sacrifice fly to right field and scored Nancy Crane. Aleca Johnson made her third appearance of the year, and came in for relief for Stacey Johnson in the seventh. She retired the side, then in the bottom of the inning, sophomore Samantha Jennings tied the game with her second home run of the season, Carolina’s second on the night.

In the eighth, The Gamecocks got their winning run when Kristin Hall singled to left field off of Dana Bowers (2-1) to score Amber Curtis. Carolina has hit a homerun in the last four games.

Next up for the Gamecocks is a doubleheader against North Carolina, Saturday, Feb. 23 in Chapel Hill. USC does not return home to play until March 6 when they host UNC-Greensboro.