March 14, 2004
Baton Rouge, La. – Leslie Klein provided LSU all of the runs they needed to beat South Carolina 4-0 in the deciding game of the series Sunday. Klein hit a double and a home run to drive in four runs off of Gamecock starter Melanie Henkes. The No. 15 Gamecocks fell to 14-5 overall and 3-3 in the SEC while the fourth-ranked Tigers improved to 25-5 and 6-2 in the conference. Sophomore Ashley Smith was the lone Gamecock to record a hit off of Kristin Schmidt (15-3) as she held USC to one base runner.
LSU set the tone early in the game and took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Klein hit a two-RBI double to drive in LaDonia Hughes, who was hit by a pitch, and Lauren Castle, who drew a walk to reach base.
USC recorded their only hit of the game in the second inning when Ashley Smith led off with a stand-up double. The Gamecocks couldn’t execute a run across the plate however as Amber Curtis popped out and Kristin Hall lined into a double play to end the inning.
The Tigers extended their lead in the third when Klein drove in two more runs with a two-RBI home run to centerfield to go up 4-0.
Schmidt retired the Gamecocks in perfect order after the second inning as USC could not manage to reach base.
