May 5, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – Senior McKenna Hughes belted a ninth inning walk off homerun as the University of South Carolina softball team claimed a 1-0 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels, in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Gamecocks improve to 33-22 overall and 11-16 in the SEC while the Rebels fall to 24-32 and 11-16 in the SEC. The victory also secures a spot in the SEC Tournament for Carolina, as they are guaranteed to finish in the top eight in the conference.
With the game winning shot, the Gamecocks ended a 50.1 inning scoreless streak, which extended to April 22, and spanned six games. Starting pitcher Kate Pouliot picked up the win after allowing only one hit through nine innings and improves to 15-6, while Becky Nye recorded the loss and falls to 5-17 on the year.
The Rebels threatened in the top of the fourth inning when Courtnie Ghinaudo started things off with a one out walk. Lisa Conchos followed with a single to give the Rebels runners on first and second with clean up batter Lauren Grill stepping to the plate. After Ghinaudo stole third, the Gamecocks turned to their defense to get them out of the jam. Second baseman Lisa Longo fielded a sharp ground ball off the bat of Grill and fired to first for the second out. On the throw, Ghinaudo broke from third and Gamecock first baseman Adele Voigt wasted no time in relaying the ball to Gamecock catcher McKenna Hughes. Hughes got the tag down just before Ghinaudo could slide across the plate, and the Gamecocks got out of the inning without surrendering a run.
The match became a pitcher’s duel after the fourth, as both teams failed to put a runner on third base until Hughes touched them all on the game’s last pitch. Pouliot and Nye allowed only one run each through the first eight innings.
Carolina wasted no time in the ninth inning as Hughes stepped up and sent the second pitch over the left centerfield wall. The homerun was the ninth for the senior and her 36 RBI on the year. Hughes now has 31 homeruns in her four-year career playing for the Garnet and Black.
The Gamecocks will conclude their regular season Sunday afternoon with the series finale against Mississippi. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Beckham Field.
South Carolina 1, Ole Miss 0 (May 05, 2007 at Columbia, S.C.) (Game 2)———————————————————————-
Ole Miss………… 000 000 000 – 0 1 3 (24-31, 11-16)
South Carolina…… 000 000 001 – 1 2 0 (33-22, 11-16)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Ole Miss – Becky Nye. South Carolina – Kate Pouliot.
Win-Kate Pouliot(15-6) Loss-Becky Nye(5-17) T-1:39 A-782
HR SC – McKenna Hughes (9).Game notes:
Nye faced 1 batter in the 9th.
