April 23, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – Senior Jodi Fittro doubled her career home run total in just one game as she recorded two long balls in Carolina’s sweep over Furman. Fittro, who now has four career home runs, hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to give USC a 9-1 win over the Lady Paladins. The outfielder drove in six of the Gamecocks nine runs for a team season high. Carolina improved to 34-14 while Furman dropped to 18-24. Aleca Johnson evened her record for the season (4-4) as she pitched six innings and gave up one unearned run on four hits.

Meghan Cornett went 3-for-3 at the plate while Amber Curtis went 3-for-4 and scored two runs. For the day, Curtis went 5-for-8 with four runs. Kim Evans also went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

Ashley Smith drove in the first run for Carolina with an RBI single in the third inning. Kristin Hall then hit a two-out two-run RBI single to give USC a 3-0 lead.

Fitrro hit her third home run of the season, 30th of the year for the Gamecocks, when she hit a two-run shot to left field. Furman’s Karen Meyers dropped a foul pop up with two outs during Fittro’s at bat that allowed Fittro to take another swing. It was that pitch that was knocked out of the park to give USC a 5-0 lead.

The Lady Paladins scored their only run of the night in the sixth inning when LaKerah Barr led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Alison McNulty. Barr recorded three of Furman’s five hits for the night.

USC capped off the home finale in style in the bottom of the sixth when Carolina led off with back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases. Fittro then became the second player this season to hit her second home run in a single game as she belted a homer to left field, giving USC a 9-1 walk-off victory. She becomes only the sixth Gamecock to hit two home runs in a single game. Both of Fittro’s home runs came at the hands of Tabitha Dease who fell to 2-2 for the season.

USC finishes out the season on the road as they wrap up SEC play this weekend in Oxford, Miss. Carolina will play Ole Miss in a three-game series this weekend. Next Wednesday, USC travels to Coastal Carolina for a doubleheader and their final regular season series.