April 6, 2005
Athens, Ga. – The No.10 Georgia Bulldogs scored six of their nine runs on home runs to get by the South Carolina Gamecocks 9-2 Wednesday. The win allowed UGA to sweep USC 3-0 for the series. The Gamecocks fell to 24-17 and 7-8 in the SEC while UGA improved to 36-8 and 17-1 in conference play. Ashley Smith’s home run in the first scored the only runs for USC as Aleca Johnson took the loss and fell to 4-4 on the season. Kasi Carroll came in as relief for the Bulldogs in the second inning and picked up the win as she held USC to two hits in 5.2 innings pitched. Carroll improved to 9-3
The Gamecocks recorded their first runs against starter Michelle Green for the series when Smith rocketed a home run over the left field fence and scored Jessica Josker, who reached on a walk. USC took an early 2-0. The home run was Smith’s fourth of the year, 15th of her career. USC got three hits off of Green before she was removed from the game.
In the third inning, UGA tied the score with a two-run home run by Megan McAllister. McAllister hit the long ball with two outs and drove in Katie Lewis, who reached base on a walk. In the fourth, another Georgia home run was hit and scored two more runs to put the Bulldogs up 4-2.
The Gamecocks then brought in Kate Pouliot to relieve Johnson who struggled to get any outs in the fourth and gave up a single, the home run and a walk. Another run scored when McAllister hit an RBI single to drive in pinch runner Victoria Sanders. UGA then took a three run lead, 5-2. Pouliot eventually got the Gamecocks out of the inning with a pop-up and a groundout.
USC threatened in the fifth as Meghan Cornett and Josker led off with back-to-back singles. Cornett and Josker advanced to third and second with two outs but a line drive back to the pitcher by Smith ended the inning and stranded the runners.
UGA padded their lead with a four-run sixth that included the third home run of the game, an RBI triple by Jessica Doucette and an RBI-single by Jessica Gilmore.
The Gamecocks struggled defensively as they recorded six errors. The Bulldogs were able to register 12 hits while USC managed six. Cornett was the only Gamecock to post a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3.
Johnson gave up five runs on five hits in three innings pitched while Pouliot allowed four runs on seven hits in three innings pitched.
Team 123 456 7 R H E
USC 200 000 0 2 6 6
UGA 002 304 X 9 12 0
WP: Carroll (9-3)
LP: Johnson (4-4)
