April 15, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina softball team used five RBI from McKenna Hughes to claim the final game of a three game sweep over the Georgia Bulldogs 6-2. With the win the Gamecocks improved to 29-15 (7-10 SEC) while the Bulldogs fall to 33-22 with a 5-12 mark in the SEC.
Melissa Hendon Picked up the win with her two hit performance and improved to 14-10 on the year. Kasi Carroll recorded the loss and falls to 19-7 on the season. Hendon’s impressive day followed a one hit outing on Saturday.
The Gamecocks got things started in the bottom of the first inning when lead off batter Ashton Payne singled up the middle. After Adele Voight bunted Payne over to second Hughes stepped in with one out a runner on second. Hughes connected with a pitch and sent a double to centerfield that scored Payne and gave the Gamecocks the early lead.
South Carolina was able to add to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Carolina offense got things going again after three scoreless inning. Jacqueline Wetherbee started the inning off after being hit by a Carol Pitch. After Payne singled through the right side, Voigt reached on a fielder’s choice, which left two on with one out. Hughes then lined a hard shot to the centerfield wall, which brought in both Carolina base runners.
The Bulldog bats battled back in the top of the sixth inning pulling Georgia with in one run. After Chelsea Cantillo walked with one out, Megan McAllister drove a deep shot to left field that carried out in the heavy wind. The two run shot pulled Georgia within one, but the bulldogs could not keep the threat going as Kasey Coonce popped out in foul territory to end the inning.
The Gamecocks added some insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning with once again Hughes providing most of the offense. The first run came from Payne who recorded her third hit of the day on a bunt to the left side that scored Becky Martinez. With two on and one out Voigt loaded the bases by advancing both Payne and Wetherbee on a fielder’s choice that left everyone safe. Hughes then stepped in with the bases loaded. The senior connected on her fifth hit of the day, a single to center, which drove in two runs and gave the Gamecocks a 6-2 lead.
“She had a lot of confidence in there today,” said head coach Joyce Compton of Hughes. “She’s been a little bit more patient then she has been.”
The Gamecocks will return to action Wednesday when they play the University of North Carolina Tarheels in their final non-conference match of the regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. against the ACC foes.
South Carolina 6, Georgia 2 (Apr 15, 2007 at Columbia, S.C.)
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Georgia…………. 000 002 0 – 2 2 2 (33-22, 5-12)
South Carolina…… 100 023 X – 6 9 0 (29-15, 7-10)
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Pitchers: Georgia – Kasi Carroll. South Carolina – Melissa Hendon.
Win-Melissa Hendon(14-10) Loss-Kasi Carroll(19-7) T-1:46 A-275
HR UG – Megan McAllister (6).
