Feb. 7, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina softball returns to action Tuesday and will host the Charlotte 49ers at 3:00 p.m. at Beckham Field. USC (3-1) is coming off of a loss to Coastal Carolina Sunday. This marks the season opener for the 49ers.

Last year, the two teams met and USC swept the doubleheader in Charlotte. In that series, the Gamecocks hit eight homeruns and won 8-0 and 13-0. Carolina recorded 18 hits in the game two victory.

Meghan Cornett currently leads the Gamecocks with a .643 hitting percentage. The senior first baseman went 9-for-14 in four games including a double and a triple. Freshman Lisa Longo led the team in RBIs for the weekend with six .

Pitcher Melanie Henkes went 2-0 this past weekend as she gave up only four hits total and threw two shutouts. In 13 innings pitched, the Aiken, S.C. native struck out nine and allowed two walks in two complete games.

The 49ers top returning hitter is J.J. McVay who hit .283 last year and had 32 RBIs. Charlotte has three returning pitchers in Christy Murray, Kristen Bowen and Kristi Killough. Murray and Bowen combined for all of Charlotte’s wins last year while Killough only saw action in 13.0 innings.

Tuesday is Women’s Basketball Ticket Stub Day. Fans can show their ticket stub from the women’s basketball game vs. Auburn and get in for $1.00.