Feb. 9, 2007
BOCA RATON, Fla. – South Carolina softball opened the 2007 season on a high note as the Gamecocks shutout the Pittsburgh Panther 3-0 in their first game of the FAU Miken Tournament. Pitcher Melissa Hendon (1-0) recorded nine strikeouts and held the Panthers to just two hits to earn her first Division-I win. Offensively, USC posted 11 hits, including three doubles by senior McKenna Hughes and Hendon.
The Gamecocks connected on back-to-back hits in the second inning by freshman Lindsay Walker and junior Becky Martinez to set up a scoring run. Sophomore Jacqueline Wetherbee singled to right center to drive Walker home from second for South Carolina’s first run of the season.
USC scored in the third on an RBI double by Hughes to score freshman Adele Voigt and again in the fifth on an RBI double by Hendon to go up 3-0.
Pitt’s two hits came in the first inning as leadoff batter Sheena Hellon singled to begin the game and Joey Scarf to right field. Hendon and the Gamecocks then buckled down and retired the next batter to get out of the inning. From there, Hendon pitched six hitless innings and gave up one walk as the Gamecocks cruised to the victory.
The Panthers went down in order in the top of the seventh with Hendon hanging up Alex Shoemaker to end the game.
With the win, USC is now 20-2 in season openers and extended its record against Pitt to 4-0. The Gamecocks will play the Panthers again this season when Pitt comes to Columbia for a doubleheader series March 4.
South Carolina 3, Pittsburgh 0 (Feb 09, 2007 at Boca Raton, Fla.)
———————————————————————-
Pittsburgh………. 000 000 0 – 0 2 0 (0-1)
South Carolina…… 011 010 X – 3 11 0 (1-0)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Pittsburgh – ZINGER; BOSTICK(6). South Carolina – Melissa Hendon.
Win-Melissa Hendon(1-0) Loss-ZINGER(0-1) T-1:22 A-0
