April 2, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Gamecocks suffered its first SEC series loss of the season Wednesday as they fell 1-0 to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the final game of the three-game series. Carolina fell to 25-10 and 9-5 in the SEC while UT capitalized on errors by USC and improved to 33-13 and 6-6 in the conference. For the second day in a row, Tennessee’s Stephanie Humphrey held Gamecock hitting at bay as USC was shut out for the second consecutive game. Jodi Fittro was Carolina’s lone multi-hit batter as she went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Debralee Troesh recorded USC’s other hit. Stacey Johnson (12-5, 5-2 SEC) recorded the loss as Tennessee scored one unearned run on five hits.

In the sixth inning, back-to-back USC errors allowed UT’s Stacey Jennings to reach base and move into scoring position at second base. Jennings then advanced to third on a groundout by Angela Brewer and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Blaine Teasley to give the Lady Vols a 1-0 lead.

Carolina made one more attempt to rally in the seventh when Meghan Cornett reached base on a one out error but USC’s next two batters popped up for the final two outs, giving UT’s Stacey Jennings her third save of the season.

Defense was shaky for both teams as they combined for eight errors. Carolina recorded three of its five errors in the sixth inning alone. Carolina has not scored a run in 15 innings, its longest stretch of the season. The shutout marks the third time this season for USC and it is the first time the Gamecocks have been shutout back-to-back.

USC returns to action this weekend as they travel to Lexington, Ky. to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a three-game series. Game times are scheduled for Noon (ET) both Saturday and Sunday.