May 20, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – It was a new day but a familiar result as South Carolina’s Jessica Josker delivered the game-winning hit for the Gamecocks in their 2-0 win over No. 20 Oregon Sunday at the NCAA Softball Regional played at Beckham Field. Josker watched from the on-deck circle as Oregon elected to intentionally walk McKenna Hughes with one out and runners on the corners in the third inning. With the Ducks loading the bases for Josker, she singled up the middle, driving in Jaqueline Wetherbee. Lindsay Walker followed Josker by grounding into a fielder’s choice that scored Adele Voigt to cap the scoring.
South Carolina improved to 37-24 with the win, while Oregon slid to 44-18.
Melissa Hendon (19-17) picked up the win for the Gamecocks by limiting the potent Oregon offense to two hits and retiring the last 13 Duck batters. Oregon’s Alicia Cook fell to 23-5 in taking the loss. Hendon struck out seven in picking up the victory and pitched her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning by getting Neena Bryant to pop out to second base with two outs.
Josker’s heroics Sunday followed a similar performance yesterday, as NC State elected to intentionally walk Hughes to get to Josker, who responded with a game-winning three-run double into the gap.
The Gamecocks and Ducks face each other at 3:15 p.m. for the Columbia Regional championship.
