Feb. 15, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore pitcher Kate Pouliot (1-1) pitched a career night as she led the Gamecocks to a 6-0 win over Winthrop to sweep the doubleheader. Pouliot gave up one hit, recorded a career high, 12 strikeouts, and posted her first shutout of the season. She threw a perfect game into the fifth inning, and had a no-hitter into the sixth.
With the win, the Gamecocks improved to 5-2, while the Eagles fell to 0-2. Julie Harvey took the loss for Winthrop and fell to 0-1.
After a sluggish start in game one, the Gamecocks found their bats in game two. Ashton Payne had a hot bat during the night as she went 3-for-3 with three runs, two stolen bases and an RBI. Jessica Josker added two more hits as she went 2-for-4 with one run and an RBI. Carolina totaled nine hits and six runs, both a season high.
USC took an early 1-0 lead in the first then tacked on three more runs in the second. The Gamecocks final runs of the night came in the fourth with an RBI single by McKenna Hughes and an RBI sac fly by Ashley Smith.
Pouliot was in total control throughout the game. After striking out five of the first six batters she faced, Pouliot held the Eagles without base runners until the fifth inning when Laura Hill walked with one out. Winthrop remained hitless until the sixth inning when Lisa Kingsmore hit a two-out single to left field following a Gamecock error. The shutout is Pouliot’s third in her career.
This marks the third straight game the Gamecocks’ pitching staff has recorded 10 or more strikeouts. Prior to the season, the last time a USC pitcher had a 10-strikeout game was in 2004.
South Carolina returns to action this weekend when they travel to Florida State for the Seminole Classic. USC will take on Iowa State and FSU on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18.
