April 16, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina pitcher Melissa Hendon was named SEC Pitcher of the Week Monday following her efforts in the three-game series against the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend. Hendon led the Gamecocks to a 3-0 sweep over the Bulldogs and helped put the Gamecocks in third place in the SEC East.

Hendon went 3-0 for the week as she posted a 0.93 ERA and gave up only three hits on the week. The Ringgold, Ga. native went 2-0 in two starts and picked up the win in game two. She pitched a complete game shutout in game one, before returning in the 10th inning of game two to record the victory. Hendon pitched 13 scoreless innings before giving up a run, and held the Bulldogs scoreless for 14 total innings. After suffering an eight-game losing streak, Hendon has won her last four of five decisions and is now 14-10 and 6-8 in the SEC with a 1.41 ERA and a team leading 180 strikeouts.

This marks the first SEC Pitcher of the Week honor for South Carolina since 2003 when Stacey Johnson was named. This is the second SEC weekly honor this season for the Gamecocks. Freshman Lindsay Walker was named Freshman of the Week back in February.

With the wins, this led the Gamecocks to their first series win against Georgia since 2004, and the first sweep against Bulldogs since 1999. South Carolina is now 29-15 and 7-10 in the SEC.