Feb. 9, 2008
BOCA RATON, Fla. – No. 12 Michigan came from two runs down to score three in the top of the seventh to steal a 3-2 victory from South Carolina as the Gamecocks ended pool play in the 2008 Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic. South Carolina falls to 1-3 on the season, while Michigan stands at 2-1.
The Wolverines’ clean-up hitter Samantha Findlay got the rally started with a walk from a full count. Her sister, Angela, followed with a double off the left field wall, putting the tying run at second base. After senior Melissa Hendon struck out Dorian Shaw, Roya St. Clair hit a shot down to first base that junior Jacqueline Wetherbee could not handle. The ball ricocheted off Wetherbee’s foot far enough to allow both Findlay sisters to score to tie up the game. Pinch runner Megan Gregory promptly moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Michigan pitcher Nikki Nemitz singled to shallow left center, keeping Gregory from scoring. Teddi Ewing came up and hit a ball to center field, where Lisa Longo made the catch and fired to the plate. Gregory beat the throw home to put the Wolverines on top.
Carolina threatened in the bottom half of the inning, as pinch hitter Cagney Davis reached first on an error. But Carolina could only move that runner to second, as a foul out and a ground out brought up Jessica Josker with the game on the line. The senior, who struck out twice earlier on pitches on the outside corner, this time struck out swinging to close the ball game.
The Gamecocks took the early 2-0 lead in the first behind RBI from freshman Laura Mendes and senior Becky Martinez. Longo led off the game with a double and moved to third on Ashton Payne’s one-out single. Mendes came up and hit a grounder to second that Wolverine second baseman Molly Bausher couldn’t handle, bringing in Longo. Martinez followed with a single up the middle to put Carolina up, 2-0.
Hendon (0-1) pitched brilliantly through six, but takes the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks while striking out eight. Nemitz got the win after giving up two earned runs and six hits, while striking out seven.
The Gamecocks play in the fifth-place game on Sunday at 9 a.m. against either North Florida or Massachusetts to wrap up play at the FAU Kick-Off Classic.
