March 29, 2003

Auburn, Ala. – South Carolina (23-8, 7-3 SEC) softball rallied in the seventh to tie the game with Auburn (19-19, 7-7 SEC) but fall short in the eighth as the USC lost 2-1 in extra innings. The Gamecocks left 11 runners on base and failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Aleca Johnson (2-2) suffered the loss for the Gamecocks while Kristen Keyes improved to 5-10 despite Carolina registering seven hits to Auburn’s six.

Auburn threatened in the fifth with one out and runners on first and third before Johnson came in to relieve starter Melanie Henkes. Johnson then forced two fly outs and the Gamecocks survived the inning. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Auburn’s Ashley Griffin scored from third on a wild pitch by Johnson to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Carolina tied the game in the seventh when Kim Evans, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored on a double by Amber Curtis with two outs. In the bottom half of the inning, Johnson sat Auburn down in order to force extra innings.

In the eighth, Danielle Quinones led off the inning with a double to right field. Keyes was then brought in to pitch for Spivey. Quinones then attempted to score the go ahead run on a single by Meghan Cornett but was thrown out at the plate by centerfielder Shannon Anderson. Later in the inning with two outs and the bases loaded, Evans grounded out to end Carolina’s rally.

Auburn then led off the eighth with a double by Griffin and advanced to third on a sacrifice hit by Anderson. Sara Dean then hit a single to right field to drive in Anderson for the winning run. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Gamecocks for the Tigers.

The two teams meet for the final game of the series Sunday at noon (CT).

-USC-