March 26, 2003

Fayetteville, Ark. – The 13th ranked University of South Carolina softball team defeated Arkansas 5-1 on Wednesday at Lady Back Yard in Fayetteville, Ark. The Gamecocks improved to 22-7 overall and 6-2 in the SEC while the Razorbacks dropped to 16-21 and 4-11 in the SEC.

In the second inning, the Gamecocks ended a Razorback threat after Julie Young of Arkansas was waived home but thrown out at the plate by Jodi Fittro. The Gamecocks got another big play from the catcher in the second inning, Ashley Smith threw out Zenobia Davidson at second base for the second out. Stacey Johnson then hit two consecutive Arkansas batters and Carolina made the call to the bullpen.

Johnson finished off the Razorback threat as she got Blaire Woodward to strike out to end the inning. Johnson retired 16 of the 17 batters she faced over the final five and one-third innings. The sophomore from Seneca, S.C. came in and dominated as she struck out five and only allowed one hit during her relief appearance.

The Gamecocks struck first in the fifth inning when Debralee Troesh homered for the seventh time this year, and eighth of her career to give Carolina a 3-0 lead. The homer was also Troesh’s eighth career. The Gamecocks added two more runs in the top of the seventh on a pair of Arkansas errors to take a 5-0 lead into the Arkansas side of the inning. The Razorbacks managed to get one run in the bottom of the seventh on a Julie Young homer to provide the game’s final 5-1 margin.

The Gamecocks head to Auburn to face the Tigers on March 29th as the two teams will play in a Saturday double header starting at 1p.m.. The final game of the series will be on Sunday at 1p.m..