April 12, 2004
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The South Carolina Gamecocks suffered fell 5-3 to the Florida Gators Sunday as the Gators swept the series 3-0. USC fell to 21-16 overall and 10-14 in the SEC. USC recorded three runs on five hits and three errors. McKenna Hughes drove in two of the Gamecock runs with a sacrifice fly and a home run.
For the second game in a row, the Gamecocks took the lead in the first inning. USC went up 1-0 when Nancy Crane, who led off with a walk, scored on a sacrifice fly by McKenna Hughes.
Hughes drove in USC’s second run of the game when she hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning, her second of the season and of the series.
In the bottom half of the fourth, The Gators capitalized on a hit and two Gamecock errors to cut USC’s in half. Kristen Butler reached on a two-base error with one out. Shelley Stevens then came in to pinch run for Butler and advanced to third on a single by Lauren Roussell. Lindsey Cameron then grounded out for the second out and on that play, first baseman Meghan Cornett threw the ball back to home for a play at the plate but catcher Ashley Smith dropped the ball which allowed Stevens to score safely and bring the Gators to within one, 2-1.
Florida took the lead in the fifth when Melissa Zick hit a two-out two-run home run to put the Gators out front 3-2.
In the sixth, Crane led off with a single and Cornett reached safely on an error before Florida changed pitchers and brought in Amanda Moore. Moore struck out Hughes, the first batter she faced, but then Smith came up with a single to right field to drive home Crane and tie the game 3-3. Amber Curtis then grounded out to the pitcher and advanced the runners to second and third with two outs, but Johnson lined out to the pitcher Moore to end the inning.
The Gators regained the lead in the sixth when the bases were loaded with no outs and pinch hitter Mirelis Torres hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Butler to come home. Jennings retrieved the ball to make the play at the plate but overthrew it to Smith and allowed the leading run to score. With the bases still loaded and only one out, the Gators went up 5-3 on an RBI single by Jenilee Garner. Johnson struck out Mandy Schuerman looking and Zick grounded out to second to end the inning.
In the seventh, the Gamecocks went down in order with three straight groundouts to end the game. Stacey Johnson took the loss for the Gamecocks and fell to 13-6 while Amanda Moore earned the victory and improved to 6-0.
