March 4, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. – After scoring only one run in game one, South Carolina bounced back and completed its doubleheader sweep to defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers 7-1 in game two Sunday. Kate Pouliot (10-1) threw a one hitter as she earned her 10th victory on the season. The Gamecocks improved to 18-3 overall while Pitt fell to 2-9.
The Gamecocks scored seven runs on 11 hits off of the Panthers pitching, as Laura Belardinelli (0-3) gave up seven runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings pitched to record the loss. Pinch hitter Kelly Murphy hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth to break up the shut out and drove in the Panthers one run.
USC jumped on the scoreboard early with two runs in the first. Lindsay Walker doubled to lead off and Adele Voigt followed with a single to give Carolina its first two base runners of the game. Walker eventually scored on an error and an RBI single by Melissa Hendon drove in Voigt to put the Gamecocks up 2-0.
Carolina continued to strike back in the second inning as they chalked up four more runs to establish a 6-0 lead. USC capitalized on three hits and two Panther errors to score the runs. Voigt and Hendon each had RBI singles in the inning, while Whitney Wierzbicki scored on an error and Hughes scored on a wild pitch.
Pouliot’s no-hitter ended in the fourth when Joey Scarf singled and advanced on a throwing error by Walker to lead off the inning. That would be the only hit given up by the Gamecocks on the day. Scarf eventually scored on Murphy’s sacrifice fly.
USC came back with one more run in the bottom of the fourth when Hughes belted home run No. 7 over the left field wall and extended Carolina’s lead 7-1. It was Hughes’ 29th career home run. Hendon and Wierzbicki both went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Voigt went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
After the fourth, Pouliot pitched the final three innings perfectly, and the Gamecocks’ defense went errorless, to secure the victory.
South Carolina returns to action Wednesday for a midweek doubleheader against Coastal Carolina before opening up Southeastern Conference action next weekend. The Gamecocks will travel to Arkansas for a three-game series with the Lady `Backs.
South Carolina 7, Pittsburgh 1 (Mar 04, 2007 at Columbia, S.C.) (Game 2)
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Pittsburgh………. 000 100 0 – 1 1 4 (2-9)
South Carolina…… 240 100 X – 7 11 2 (18-3)
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Pitchers: Pittsburgh – BELARDINELLI; SHUSTER(4). South Carolina – Kate Pouliot.
Win-Kate Pouliot(10-1) Loss-BELARDINELLI(0-3) T-1:30 A-265
HR SC – McKenna Hughes (7).
