Feb. 18, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sophomore Jessica Josker scored three of South Carolina’s four runs and went 3-for-3 as the Gamecocks defeated Florida State 4-2 in its final game of the Seminole Classic. USC improved to 7-4 while FSU fell to 6-2. Melissa May took the loss for FSU and fell to 2-1.
Lisa Longo went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while pitcher Christie Hamilton went 1-for-2 with two RBI. Hamilton also recorded the win for USC and improved to 4-2. Hamilton pitched her fifth complete game of the season and gave up two runs on six hits and struck out four. May threw 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and struck out five.
The Gamecocks scored early and took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Josker singled to reach base safely and on a two-out single by Hamilton, scored her first run of the game. The two connected again in the third inning for USC’s second run of the game when Josker, who once again singled to reach safely, scored on a sac fly by Hamilton and put the Gamecocks ahead 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, FSU led off with a single by Natasha Jacob, who eventually scored on an RBI single by Veronica Wootson to cut USC’s lead in half 2-1. The Gamecocks got out of the inning when Michelle Snyder flied out to left field for the third out.
In the fifth, FSU threatened to take the lead as they had the bases loaded with two outs and Veronica Wootson was at the plate. Hamilton went ahead of Wootson with a 0-2 count and the All-America candidate grounded out to end the inning and the Gamecocks held onto the lead.
USC added two more runs in the fifth as Longo drove in Whitney Wierzbicki who reached on an error and McKenna Hughes drove in Josker, her third run of the game, to put the Gamecocks up 4-1.
FSU scored again in the top of the sixth and cut the lead to two but the Gamecocks got out of the inning and in the seventh had a 1-2-3 inning to clinch the win and go 2-2 at the tournament.
