May 17, 2002
Columbia, S.C. – The Georgia Bulldogs held South Carolina no runs and no hits as they defeated the host Gamecocks 1-0 in Columbia, S.C. this afternoon. Georgia pitcher Michelle Green pitched a full seven innings giving up only one walk and recording four strikeouts.
Georgia (59-15) advances to face the winner of the Eastern Kentucky-UCLA game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Beckham Field in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina (44-19) will face UCLA Saturday at 11:00 a.m. if UCLA loses or the Gamecocks will face the winner of the Georgia vs. UCLA game on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. should the Colonels of EKU lose. This was South Carolina’s first loss in the double elimination tournament. The champion of this Regional bracket will advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, OK on May 23-27, 2002.
The lone run of the game was scored by the Bulldogs in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Nicole Barber bunted and made it safely to first, catching the Gamecocks off-guard. On the next pitch, Barber stole second. Second baseman Katie Lewis laid down a sacrifice bunt which advanced Barber to third. First baseman Kim Wedland hit a sacrifice fly to left field, which drove in the lone run as Barber scored. Michelle Green would ground out to end the inning.
“I think [Michelle] Green did a great job of keeping us off balance,” said Carolina Head Coach Joyce Compton. “All afternoon I think we got three or four good swings on her. All afternoon I thought we played well defensively, we did what we needed to do on that side of the ball. It’s hard to win a game if you don’t get any hits. I don’t think we adjusted real well, but obviously I credit Georgia for keeping us off balance. It’s disappointing to get no hit in our own ballpark, but all we can do is pin our ears back and rebound tomorrow.”
Georgia recorded one run off of five hits with no errors while Carolina had no runs, no hits, and made one error, a fielding error by shortstop Amber Curtis in the top of the third. South Carolina pitcher Megan Matthews (22-8) pitched all seven innings for the Gamecocks and received the loss.
“I think we didn’t just get that spark today,” said South Carolina leftfielder Adrianna Baggetta. “With our team, hitting is contagious and we couldn’t get one to fall. We didn’t have good at-bats today.”
Carolina stranded their one lone runner while Georgia had six left on base.
