June 11, 2002
Columbia, S.C. – In what was an exciting and record-breaking season for the 2002 USC softball team, the Gamecocks season came to an end on May 19. But not before claiming a 46-20 overall and 20-10 SEC record, marking its fourth consecutive 40-20-plus win season, setting a school record for home runs in a single season and recording the program’s 1,000th victory.
For the fourth straight year in a row, USC advanced to the NCAA Regionals and for the first time since 1997, Columbia was a host site. The Gamecocks posted a first round 2-1 victory over Eastern Ientucky but were no-hit 1-0 by SEC rival Georgia in round two. USC then met Georgia again, only this time it was a do or die situation and the Gamecocks sent the Bulldogs packing, as they blasted UGA 9-3. That set the Gamecocks up for a match with No. 1 UCLA, a team that USC had never beaten before.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, South Carolina pushed a rally to extend their season at least one more game as the Gamecocks scored two runs to nab a 2-1 victory over UCLA, the first over a No. 1 team since 1999. The win also marked the program’s 1,000th win. Unfortunately, the Bruins avenged their loss as they came back in the final game of the regional to defeat USC 1-0 and cutting the Garnet and Black’s chances short of advancing to the Women’s College World Series.
Despite the tough loss and an up and down season, the Gamecocks continued to etch its name in collegiate softball. Senior ace pitcher Megan Matthews closed out her career as the strikeout leader of all-time for USC with 1,090. This number also ranks her 11th all-time on the NCAA list and second in the SEC. Matthews capped off her career at USC by claiming five USC records and finished second with 101 career wins.
USC collected their fourth SEC Eastern Division title and at the SEC tournament, the Gamecocks set two new tournament records: most runs scored (25) and RBI (24). USC also now holds the SEC record for most runs scored in a single SEC Tournament game (11 vs. MSU) and RBI (10 vs. MSU).
Another milestone for the 2002 Gamecocks was setting a new home run record for a season. The most home runs any Carolina softball team had hit in a season was 28 back in 1994. Freshman Meghan Cornett hit her fifth career home run in a game against Ole Miss which was also the team’s 28th and tied the school record. The record was broken when Adrianna Baggetta hit a home run against Mississippi State at the SEC Tournament for the team’s 29th. Carolina ended the season with 35 long balls, establishing a new USC record.
The Gamecocks also collected various postseason honors as two players were named All-SEC, head coach Joyce Compton was named Co-Coach of the Year and four were named to the SEC all-tournament team. In addition, USC had four named to the NCAA Regional all-tournament team, the most Gamecocks named to a team since 1997.
The Gamecocks lose two leaders in Baggetta and Matthews, but with a large incoming senior class, the 2003 team looks to be poised and ready for what lies ahead.
2002 USC Softball Final Notes
46-20, 20-10 SEC Final ranking: 12th SEC finish: 1st East
* Set new record in home runs for a season with 35. previous record was 28 in 1994. * Defeated a No. 1 team in the country for the first time since 1999 * Recorded fourth consecutive 40-plus win season. * Recorded second ever 20-win SEC season. * With the win against UCLA, USC recorded the program’s 1,000th victory. USC’s all-time softball record is now 1000-384-5. * Senior Megan Matthews became the 13th pitcher in NCAA history to record 1,000 career strikeouts. She finished the season 11th on the all-time list with 1,090. * Matthews also became the second pitcher in Carolina history to record 100 career wins. She finished the season second on USC’s all-time list with 101 victories. * USC set new SEC tournament records as they scored 25 runs and recorded 24 RBI. * In addition, they set new SEC Tournament single game records when they scored 11 runs and recorded 10 RBI against Mississippi State (5/9). * Senior Adrianna Baggetta scored seven runs total in the SEC Tournament, which is also an SEC record.
Postseason Honors
All-SEC: Megan Matthews (second team), Adrianna Baggetta (second team), Amber Curtis (second team), head coach Joyce Compton, Co-coach of the Year
SEC Academic Honor Roll: Jodi Fittro, Megan Matthews, Joyce McMillan (’01), Megan Donohoo (’01)
SEC All-Tournament Team: Danielle Quinones, Samantha Jennings, Amber Curtis, Adrianna Baggetta
NCAA Regional Tournament Team: Debralee Troesh, Meghan Cornett, Aleca Johnson, Megan Matthews
All-Region Southeast Team: Megan Matthews (second team)
SEC Good Works Team: Adrianna Baggetta
SEC Players of the Week: Amber Curtis (3/18), Aleca Johnson (4/8), Meghan Cornett (4/15)
