February 25, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 20th-ranked South Carolina softball team dropped two games to North Carolina (7-5) Saturday as they lost game one 9-8 in 10 innings and 8-1 in the second game. In game one, Gamecocks freshman Aleca Johnson (1-1), who relieved starter Stacey Johnson in the second inning, recorded her first loss of the season. The freshman threw seven and one-third innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. In game two, Meghan Cornett (0-1) made her first appearance on the mound, pitching six innings and allowing eight runs on 13 hits.
The Gamecocks jumped ahead early as they took a 5-0 lead in the first inning. After Jodi Fittro scored on an error to put USC on the board 1-0, shortstop Amber Curtis became the first person to hit a homerun out of UNC’s brand new complex as she hit a three-run homer off the UNC scoreboard giving Carolina a 4-0 lead. Melissa Sandel then followed with an RBI triple to score Kristin Hall.
The Tar Heels fought back in the second inning when they broke out with a four-run inning on six hits. They returned in the third inning with two runs on a two out rally, to take the lead 6-5.
USC scored again in the fifth when Debralee Troesh singled to score Fittro and Curtis doubled to score Troesh, putting the Gamecocks up 7-6. North Carolina answered again in the sixth when Natalie Anter hit a solo homerun to tie the game 7-7.
In the tenth, USC sparked a rally as Fittro hit a two-out RBI double to score pinch runner Nancy Crane and put the Gamecocks ahead one more time, 8-7. But USC couldn’t hold on to the lead as the Tar Heels scored once again. Kelly Ramsey singled to score Tiffany Tolleson, who led off the inning with a bunt single, tying the game with no outs. UNC had the bases loaded when Jessica Young singled to bring in the winning run, 9-8.
South Carolina once again got off to an early lead in game two as Troesh extended her hitting streak to nine games and doubled to score Kim Evans, who reached on a fielder’s choice. That would be the only run the Gamecocks recorded as UNC pitching held USC to four hits the rest of the game. The Tar Heels took the lead in the bottom of the second on a two-RBI double by their pitcher Ashley Allen. UNC would go on to score six more runs off of Cornett for the 8-1 victory.
South Carolina heads to Plant City, Fla. for a three-day tournament March 1-3. USC is scheduled to play No. 10 Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Central Michigan and Ohio.
