April 11, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina suffered a heartbreaker as the 23rd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs snapped a 10-game win-streak for USC and defeated the Gamecocks 2-1 in 10 innings. Megan Matthews took the loss for Carolina and fell to 16-5 while UGA’s Nichole Urban improved to 8-1. For the series, designated player Kim Evans went 4-for-10, including a double and a triple, scored two runs, and had three RBIs.

With the game tied 1-1, the international tiebreaker rule went into effect in the tenth and pinch runner Molly McWilliams was placed at second base. McWilliams advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and with one out, scored on an RBI single by designated player Michelle Green to give Georgia the 2-1 lead.

During the Gamecocks at-bat in the tenth, Amber Curtis was the base runner placed at second for Carolina, but was caught stealing at third for the first out. Urban then retired USC’s next two batters on a fly out and a ground out, ending Carolina’s chances to rally, and claiming their only game of the series.

Earlier in the game, USC first took the lead in the third inning when Evans hit an RBI double to score Danielle Quinones. Matthews had a perfect game going for three and two-thirds innings before she walked Kim Wendland in the fourth. The senior pitcher then maintained the no-hitter into the seventh inning until Nicole Barber hit a bunt single to reach base safely. Barber, UGA’s leading base stealer, then stole second and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. She would tie the game at 1-1 when she scored on an RBI single by Kristen Bell.

USC had opportunities to score in the fourth and fifth innings when they had the bases loaded but were unable to get anything across. For the game, Carolina stranded 11 runners on base.

The victory for Georgia snapped a 10-game losing streak in Columbia. The Gamecocks will have Friday off before returning to action on Saturday to begin a three-game series against Kentucky. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.