March 9, 2003
Columbia, S.C. – The 13th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (16-6, 2-1 SEC) defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs (16-7, 1-2 SEC), 5-2 Sunday to win their first SEC series of the season. Centerfielder Jodi Fittro led the Gamecocks with three hits on the afternoon. Designated player Tia Rogers and third baseman Danielle Quinones had two hits apiece for USC.
Mississippi State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after centerfielder Iyhia McMichael launched a homerun over the left field wall. In the bottom of the first, South Carolina countered with three runs. Shortstop Amber Curtis walked to lead off the inning and Fittro singled, advancing runners to first and second. After a sacrifice bunt by Debralee Troesh to advance the runners, Quinones singled to left field, scoring Curtis and tying the game at 1-1. Two batters later, Rogers hit a two-RBI single, scoring Fittro and Quinones to give the Gamecocks a 3-1 lead.
The Gamecocks added runs in the third and fourth innings, respectively. In the third, Quinones singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rogers’ single put runners at first and third with one out. MSU starter Melissa Massey (11-2, 1-1 SEC) uncorked her second wild pitch of the inning, allowing Quinones to score and give USC a 4-1 lead. After MSU narrowed the lead to 4-2 in the top half of the fourth, South Carolina’s offense revived. Curtis singled and reached second after Fittro looped a single to centerfield. Troesh’s first hit of the afternoon loaded the bases with one out. Two batters later, catcher Ashley Smith reached on an error to score Curtis and give the Gamecocks a final 5-2 lead.
Pitcher Melanie Henkes (9-1, 2-0 SEC) entered the game for South Carolina in the third inning to give up four hits and strike out three Bulldog batters for the victory.
USC continues its homestand with a doubleheader versus Northern Illinois beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The Gamecocks next SEC opponent will be LSU. The Gamecocks and Tigers begin the SEC series Saturday with a doubleheader at Beckham Field starting at 1 p.m. Sunday’s game is set for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net.
