Feb. 15, 2008
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A three-run home run by Megan Langenfield proved to be the difference-maker, as No. 10/6 UCLA downed South Carolina, 6-2, in the Gamecocks’ first game at the 2008 UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium. Carolina fell to 2-5 with the loss, while the Bruins improved to 6-1.
UCLA charged out to an early 3-0 lead in the first thanks to Langenfeld run. Kate Schroder got a lead-off walk before Ashley Herrera’s single moved her to second. Krista Colburn sacrificed the two over before Langenfeld smashed a 2-1 pitch from Melissa Hendon (0-3) over the right-field wall.
The Gamecocks answered with a Jill Semento RBI single in the bottom half of the first. She plated Laura Mendes, who drew a two-out walk before moving to third on a fielding error by UCLA senior pitcher Anjelica Seldin (2-1).
UCLA added a run in the second after a dropped throw on Herrera’s single allowed Monica Harrison scored from second. The Bruins tacked on another in the fifth on GiOnna DiSalvatore’s single, scoring pinch runner Lauren Mirabel.
Carolina got a run back in the bottom of the fifth as Ashton Payne tripled to left center with two outs and scored on a Seldin wild pitch. But the Blue and Gold answered with another in the sixth on Lindsay Walker’s error, which allowed Herrera to score.
Selden gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out seven Gamecocks in the win. Hendon gave up 11 hits and five runs, four earned, to take the loss.
