April 18, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – Senior Debralee Troesh tied the school record for most home runs hit in a single season with a two-run shot in the sixth inning, despite No. 16 South Carolina falling to No. 17 Alabama 6-3. The Gamecocks (31-13, 15-8 SEC) recorded three runs on three hits off of Alabama starter Erin Wright (17-5). The Tide (37-15, 20-5 SEC) managed nines off of Stacey Johnson who fell to 15-7. Troesh’s home run tied her with Joyce McMillin who set the record back in 1999.

Carolina took the first lead of the game when Sandel hit a two-out double to right field to drive in Quinones from second, giving USC a 1-0 lead. Quinones reached base on a lead off walk.

Alabama threatened in the fourth when Stacey Ramsey hit a triple just inside the right foul line with only one out. In position to score, Johnson kept her composure as she forced Capper Reed to ground out to first base and Dominique Accetturo struckout swinging to end the inning and stranded the tying run on base.

Down 1-0 in the fifth, Alabama exploded with six runs on seven hits as they batted around to take a 6-1 lead. The Tide’s Jackie Wilkins recorded two hits in the inning as she led off the inning with a double and recorded a single in her next at bat.

Nancy Crane led off the sixth with a single for the Gamecocks second hit of the game and scored when Troesh hit the scoreboard for her tenth career home run. This gave Carolina two more runs and cut Alabama’s lead in half.

The Gamecocks were unsuccessful in their attempts to rally in the seventh as Wright retired Carolina in order to claim the Tide’s 20th SEC victory of the season.

Game two was postponed until Saturday afternoon. A doubleheader is now scheduled for noon. Saturday will also be “Senior Recognition Day”.