March 16, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (15-5, 4-3 SEC) softball jumped back on the winning track as they defeated SEC foe Arkansas (8-12, 0-7 SEC) 6-1 in game one of a doubleheader Tuesday. Junior Kristin Hall recorded her first home run of the season as she belted a three-run blast over the centerfield fence and put the Gamecocks in the lead during the second inning. South Carolina recorded 11 hits, the most against an SEC team this season as starter Stacey Johnson improved to 9-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play. Lady ‘Back pitcher Heather Schlichtman fell to 6-7 and 0-5 in the SEC.
Nancy Crane went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Ashley Smith went 3-for-3 with an RBI. After the first inning, Johnson, who recorded a season high 10 strikeouts, held Arkansas scoreless for six innings.
Down 1-0 in the second, Smith led off the inning with a single for the Gamecocks second hit of the game. McKenna Hughes drew a one-out walk to give USC runners at first and second before Hall hit her first home run of the season, fourth career, a three-run shot to put the Gamecocks in the lead 3-1.
USC scored in the third inning when Jennings, who reached on a lead-off double, came home on an RBI single by Smith and gave USC a 4-1 lead.
The Gamecocks scored in their third straight inning when they added two more runs in the fourth to gain a 6-1 lead. Margaret Person scored from second on a single by Nancy Crane and Melissa Sandel came home on a throwing error by Arkansas.
In the sixth, Arkansas threatened to score as Kallie Foglesong, who hit a lead-off single to reach base, was at third with two outs, but Jennings snagged a grounder by BJ Southmayd and made the out at first for the final out of the inning.
The Lady ‘Backs led off the seventh with a hit but Johnson retired the next three batter including two strikeouts as she sealed the deal for the Gamecocks and USC picked moved over the .500 mark in SEC play.
