April 6, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs scored five runs in the third inning enroute to posting a 10-3 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks Thursday evening. With the win, UGA swept the series 3-0. The Gamecocks fell to 22-20 and 2-13 in the SEC, while Georgia improved to 35-9 and 15-3.
USC recorded eight hits, the most in seven games, and scored three runs, but it was not enough to climb past UGA. The Bulldogs registered their 10 runs on 13 hits as Christie Hamilton (11-9) took the loss. Hamilton gave up seven runs on six hits in three innings pitched. Melanie Henkes entered the game in the fourth and pitched four innings. Henkes gave up three runs on seven hits. Katie Griffith improved to 8-1 on the season as she allowed three runs on seven hits.
A two-run home run by Megan McAllister put the Bulldogs on the board early with a 2-0 lead in the first. Carolina answered in the bottom half when McKenna Hughes hit an RBI single to drive in Jessica Josker and cut UGA’s lead to one.
It was the third inning where the damage was done as the Bulldogs batted through the lineup and scored five runs on five hits, raising the score to 7-1.
UGA continued to add runs with two more in the fourth as Jessica Doucette hit a two-RBI single to center field.
Down 10-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Gamecocks continued to fight and attempted to prevent another run-rule loss. Josker led off the inning with a single and Ashton Payne was hit by a pitch. On a groundout by Hughes, the two runners advanced to third and second to put the Gamecocks in scoring position. Chrissy Schoonmaker then stepped to the plate and rocketed a double to deep center field and drove in the two runs, cutting the score 10-3. With the runs, USC was able to halt the run-rule win for UGA and forced the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, the Gamecocks recorded a three-up, three-down inning, the second of the game. USC continued to rally but could only get one base runner on in the bottom half as Darcy Norem walked with two outs.
The Gamecocks’ last chance came in the seventh and Payne led off with a single but the next three batters grounded out to end the game.
South Carolina was able to produce at the plate as Payne and senior Ashley Smith went 2-for-4. Schoonmaker went 1-for-2 with two RBI and Josker scored twice.
The Gamecocks have now lost eight straight and are still looking for their first conference series win. USC returns to action this weekend when they host the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks. Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
