Feb. 6, 2005
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior pitcher Melanie Henkes recorded her second shutout in as many days as she held the UNC-Greensboro Spartans to two hits in South Carolina’s 8-0 win Sunday. With the win, USC advanced to the championship game of the Gamecock Invitational against Coastal Carolina. McKenna Hughes drove in four of USC’s eight total runs in the game.
Meghan Cornett continued to hit with a hot bat as she went 2-for-4 with two runs. In three games, Cornett went 9-for-12 and scored four runs. Cornett scored the first run of the game as she came home on an RBI single by Lisa Longo.
The Gamecocks registered 13 hits, the third straight game in where they recorded 10 hits or more. UNCG fell to 0-3 on the season while the Gamecocks improved to 3-0.
Up 4-0, USC exploded with a four-run sixth to earn the mercy-rule victory. Freshman Becky Martinez left off with a single followed by a bunt by Whitney Wierzbicki. With one out, Cornett singled with her second hit of the game to load the bases. Hughes then doubled to deep right field and drove in three more runs for the Gamecocks. USC added another run when Lisa Longo hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Hughes.
With the 8-0 lead established, Henkes struck out Gwen Johnson and forced two groundouts to clinch the victory. The shutout marked the eighth career shutout for Henkes. The Aiken, S.C. native gave up no extra base hits, a walk and struck out six in her performance.
Martinez went 2-for-3 with two runs. In three games, the freshman outfielder was 5-for-10 with three runs.
Team 123 456 R H E
USC 120 014 8 13 0
UNCG 000 000 0 2 1
WP: Henkes (2-0)
LP: Byrne (0-2)
