April 12, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – It was the middle part of Carolina’s lineup that lifted the 15th-ranked Gamecocks (30-12, 14-7) over the 20th-ranked Florida Gators (32-15, 13-7), and won game two of the series doubleheader 3-1. Meghan Cornett and Danielle Quinones both went 2-for-3 at the plate while Cornett drove in two of Carolina’s three runs. Melanie Henkes (13-2) pitched her 10th complete game of the season and gave up one unearned run on five hits and struck out five batters. The Gamecocks recorded three runs and eight hits off of starter Amanda Moore, who fell to 11-4.

Florida took an early as they scored in the top of the first. With one out, Lindsay Norfleet doubled to centerfield and advanced to third on a passed ball. Norfleet eventually stole home on a double steal attempt with pinch runner Jennifer Brown, to give the Gators a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Carolina led off with back-to-back singles before Ashley Smith recorded her only hit of the day and singled to left centerfield, driving in Quinones from second base and tying the game 1-1. With runners at first and second, designated player Tia Rogers singled to load the bases with no outs. The bases would be loaded for the remainder of the inning as Carolina was unsuccessful in driving any runs home.

The Gamecocks were successful in the third as Cornett singled to drive in Jodi Fittro and Debralee Troesh from third and second for the winning runs.

That would be all that the Gamecocks needed as Henkes retired the next 11 of 15 batters she faced and gave up only one hit in four innings. Jackie Marchetta was the only Gator to record a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Carolina will attempt to sweep the series Sunday at 1 p.m. The only time the Gamecocks have ever swept a series from Florida was in 1997. USC went 4-0 down in Gainesville during the first year of SEC softball.