May 1, 2002
Columbia, S.C. – USC pitchers Stacey Johnson (12-8) and Aleca Johnson combine for a no-hitter in game two, while in game one Megan Matthews and S. Johnson combine for a shutout, in the Gamecocks 4-1, 5-0 sweep over Coastal Carolina (27-18). USC (38-16, 17-10) also recorded a season high three home runs in a single game, all which were hit in the fourth inning. The Gamecocks now have 26 home runs for the season, two shy of tying the school record.
Three errors and a hit batsman allowed the Lady Chants to score their only run of the night. In the fourth inning of game two, Coastal’s Kelli Julg reached base on an error by Kristin Hall before a pitch hit Jennifer Schmidt with two outs in the inning. S. Johnson then deflected a pitch off of her glove for the second error of the inning, which allowed Karlye Fortune to load the bases. Then on a 2-0 count, Danielle Jenkins was awarded first due to catcher interference call, which drew Julg home for the 1-0 CCU lead.
The Gamecocks then answered in the bottom half of the inning with three home runs. Adrianna Baggetta led off the inning with a solo shot, her fifth of the season, then Debralee Troesh followed with a walk. Megan Cornett then hit a shot over the left field wall to score two and designated player Tia Rogers then followed with the third long ball of the inning, giving USC a 4-1 lead with no outs.
That would be all USC would need as S. Johnson pitched one more inning before A. Johnson was brought in at the sixth. S. Johnson pitched five innings, struck out three and walked one, while A. Johnson pitched two innings and struck out three to earn her sixth save of the year.
In the earlier game, Matthews pitched five innings, allowed four hits, walked four and struck out nine before she came out of the game. With the score knotted at zero, the Gamecocks finally came alive in the sixth as they exploded with a five-run inning.
After two walks and a single in the fifth inning, USC took a 1-0 lead as Rogers drew a bases loaded walk. The Gamecocks continued to score as Cornett scored on a fielder’s choice, Danielle Quinones was hit by a pitch, Jodi Fittro singled and Kim Evans hit an RBI ground out to second, providing USC the 5-1 lead. Coastal’s Kimberly Josephson led off the seventh with a single, but S. Johnson retired the next three batters to end the game, combine for the shut out and record her first victory of the day.
Coastal’s Morgan Tolleson (1-5) recorded the loss in game one while Stephanie Belden fell to 12-5.
The Gamecocks will wrap up the regular season this weekend, May 4 and 5, when they host SEC opponent Ole Miss. Carolina needs one win to earn the SEC Eastern division title.