March 17, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – Melissa Hendon retired 21 out of 22 batters she faced but the effort wasn’t enough as the No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks fell to the nation’s second best team Alabama, 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Beckham Field. With the loss, the Gamecocks drop to 24-5 overall and 3-1 in the Southeastern Conference, while Alabama improves to 26-1 and 5-1 in the SEC.
The lone run came in the fifth inning when the Crimson Tide’s Lauren Parker hit a solo shot that was ruled a homerun after it hit the top of the wall and bounced back into play. Right fielder Ashton Payne looked to have a good jump on the ball but it landed just beyond her reach.
The day looked to get off to a fast start for the Gamecocks who threatened in the bottom of the first and second innings with runners at second and first both times.
In the first inning with one out, freshman Adele Voigt drew a walk off of Alabama junior Chrissy Owens. After McKenna Hughes flied out to right field, Voigt stole second to put the Gamecocks in scoring position and Hendon walked to give Carolina two on with two outs. Owens, however, was able to recover, striking out junior Jessica Josker to end the Gamecock threat.
In the second, the Gamecocks continued to apply the pressure, which started when third baseman Becky Martinez singled through the left side with one out. The next batter, Lisa Longo, advanced Martinez by laying down a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single when the junior beat out the throw from Alabama catcher Ashley Holcombe. Owens once again bailed herself out by striking out the next two Gamecock batters in Jacqueline Wetherbee and Payne.
The match turned into a pitcher’s dual from there, as the Gamecocks were only able to scatter two more hits through the next six innings.
For Carolina, Hendon pitched 4.1 perfect innings until the homerun with seven strikeouts and no walks. The loss, which drops Hendon to 10-2 overall, is the first for the junior in eight starts and only the second on the season. More impressively for Hendon and the Carolina defense the 1-0 decision is the only time that No. 2 Alabama has been held to less than three runs all season.
Alabama 1, South Carolina 0 (Mar 17, 2007 at Columbia, S.C.) (Game 1)
———————————————————————-
Alabama…………. 000 010 0 – 1 1 0 (26-1, 5-1)
South Carolina…… 000 000 0 – 0 4 0 (24-5, 3-1)
—————————————————————–
Pitchers: Alabama – Owens. South Carolina – Melissa Hendon.
Win-Owens(14-0) Loss-Melissa Hendon(10-2) T-1:24 A-0
HR UA – Parker (6).
