March 10, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – In game three against Arkansas, the 24th-ranked Gamecocks defeated the Lady Razorbacks 4-1, to win the series 2-1. USC improved to 17-7 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, while the Lady Razorbacks fell to 16-8 and 1-2.

“We showed some good emotion and excitement about SEC play this weekend. We swung the bats well and had three solid games of defense,” said head coach Joyce Compton. “Heather (Schlichtman) pitched well against us yesterday and today I think we adjusted and responded accordingly. We need to make sure that we continue to improve and not settle on what we did this weekend.”

USC’s four runs came off of the bats of Megan Cornett and Amber Curtis. In the second inning with two outs, Cornett hit a two RBI double to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead. Carolina’s final two runs came in the fifth when Curtis hit a two RBI double to score center fielder Jodi Fittro and Nancy Crane, who pinch ran for catcher Danielle Quinones. Arkansas’s only run in the game came in the third when Cortney Mitchell hit a solo home run off of Megan Matthews. That marked only the second home run of the season allowed by Matthews.

Matthews earned her tenth win of the season, but the one run she gave up snapped her shut out streak at four consecutive games, her longest this season. On Saturday, Schlichtman (7-4) recorded the win against USC but today, Carolina managed six hits and two walks off of the sophomore pitcher.

For the series, USC scored 10 runs against Arkansas and gave up six. Adrianna Baggetta led the team in hits as she went 4-for-7, walked twice and scored two runs.

The Gamecocks host Furman at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader on Wed., March 13 at Beckham Field. Carolina returns to SEC play when they travel to Starkville, Miss. March 16-17 to play Mississippi State.