May 17, 2003

Tucson, Ariz. – South Carolina’s softball season came to an end Saturday evening as the Gamecocks fell to Texas A&M 6-3 in an elimination game of the NCAA Championship regional at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. Carolina (41-20) went 3-2 at the tournament as both losses were to Texas A&M (38-21). A&M’s Lindsay Wilhelmson (18-7) held USC to three runs on three hits. Melanie Henkes recorded the loss for Carolina as the Aggies posted four runs and six hits off of Henkes. After making several dramatic comebacks throughout the tournament, USC was cut just short of another rally in the seventh inning.

The game was knotted at zero until the fourth inning when the Aggies spurted four runs on five hits to take a 4-0 lead. Rocky Spencer, who went 3-for-3 with a walk, was the first to score for A&M as she came home on an RBI double by Jana James. After that run, three straight hits by Crystal Martin, Wilhelmson and Jennifer Davis drove in three more runs to give the Aggies the momentum.

Stacey Johnson was then brought into the game in the fifth inning to try and keep the Aggies at bay. Johnson kept things under control for two innings as she held Texas A&M to one hit.

USC jumped on the board in the sixth as they cut A&M’s lead to two when Kim Evans scored on a fielder’s choice RBI by Debralee Troesh and Jodi Fittro scored from third on a passed ball.

However, up 4-2 with two outs in the seventh, A&M’s Spencer kept the inning alive as she recorded her third hit of the day and singled to give A&M another base runner. Selena Collins then drew a walk off of Johnson before James hit a triple to drive in Spencer and Collins for two more RBI’s on the night. With a 6-2 lead, A&M closed out their half of the inning with a pop fly to short.

USC’s magic had been working in the seventh inning in earlier games throughout the tournament and it appeared that it would happen again. Ashley Smith hit a one-out single and her pinch runner Samantha Jennings eventually scored on a double by Meghan Cornett. Cornett then advanced to third on an error by the second baseman and Melissa Sandel walked to give USC runners at the corners. Evans then struck out for the second out and it came down to one final chance. It looked as if Fittro was going to be the hero but her sharply hit line drive went right into the hands of A&M’s Adrian Gregory at second, snatching Carolina from its chances of advancing to the championship game. Texas A&M won the game 6-3 and handed the Gamecocks their second loss of the tournament.

For the tournament, Fittro led the Gamecocks with a .278 average, four runs, five hits, including two home runs and four RBI’s. Cornett followed with a .267 average, four hits, two runs and four RBI’s.