March 17, 2002
STARKVILLE, Miss. – USC pitcher Stacey Johnson’s wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning brought the winning run across the plate as Mississippi State (18-12, 1-2 SEC) slid by 24th-ranked South Carolina (21-8, 4-2 SEC), 11-10 Sunday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.
South Carolina came on strong in the first inning, scoring three runs on three hits including a double by sophomore Amber Curtis. Mississippi State retired the next three batters and then went to work on the offensive end, scoring five runs on four hits in the first including a three-run homerun. The Bulldogs again attacked in the second with another homerun, this time a two-run shot, to increase their lead to 7-3 over the Gamecocks.
South Carolina came back in the top of the third and scored four runs to even the count at 7-7. The action began as Curtis smashed another double to left field. Debralee Troesh then hit a single to left field and advanced to second as Curtis went to third. As Melissa Sandel grounded out to second, Curtis scored and Troesh moved to third. After a Meghan Cornett walk and a pitching change by MSU, Samantha Jennings homered to score three more runs for the Gamecocks. After a South Carolina strikeout ended the inning, the Bulldogs charged back scoring another three runs on three hits and a USC error. MSU would not score until the bottom of the ninth inning.
In the sixth, trailing Mississippi State 10-7, the Gamecocks again received run production from Samantha Jennings as she doubled to right field, eventually scoring on a Tia Rogers double. The inning ended leaving runners at third and second on two consecutive outs. In the seventh, still down 10-8, the Gamecocks scored two runs on three hits and a MSU error to tie the game and send it to extra frames. The seventh inning rally began with consecutive singles by Troesh and Sandel. They both eventually scored on another Jennings double to right field.
The Bulldogs held the Gamecocks scoreless in the next two innings before MSU right fielder Kate Jaspers scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
South Carolina is now 4-2 in SEC play and are again in action next Saturday, March 23, for a showdown against SEC leader and 4th-ranked Louisiana State University.
