March 27, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina softball (17-7, 6-5 SEC) could not get the wheels going on Saturday as they lost game two of a series doubleheader to the SEC leading Auburn Tigers (25-4, 7-1 SEC) 5-1. The Gamecocks recorded one run on five hits with three errors. Nancy Crane recorded USC’s lone RBI as she singled to drive home Melissa Sandel in the fifth inning. Melanie Henkes took the loss for the Gamecocks and fell to 5-4 for the year while Holly Currie improved to 7-0.
This marks the first series the Tigers have ever won against USC and it also marks the first wins for Auburn in Columbia. The Gamecocks still however lead the series 16-5. The doubleheader loss for USC is the first of the season and it is the second conference series loss of the year.
Auburn jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning as the Tigers connected on four consecutive hits with two outs and scored three runs off of Henkes.
In the fourth, Kristina McCain led off the inning with a double and Sara Ghezzi walked before the Gamecocks changed pitchers. Aleca Johnson came into the game and recorded the first out but a stolen base, an error and a single allowed Auburn to add to its lead with two more runs charged to Henkes, making the score 5-0.
Despite finding some hits in game two, USC loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs but only managed to get one run in. Crane looped an RBI-single to left field to score Sandel, but that would be all for the Gamecocks as the bases would remain loaded for the inning and USC hit into two fielder’s choice groundouts at home and a fly out. In the fifth, the Gamecocks recorded three of their five hits.
USC will attempt to prevent the series sweep in game three on Sunday. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (EST).
