Feb. 22, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. – Senior Melissa Hendon pitched a complete-game shutout, while freshman P.J. Fulmer drove in the game-winning run as Carolina defeated Georgia Tech, 1-0, in the first game of the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament at the USF Softball Field. The Gamecocks moves to 5-7 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets fall to 4-6.
Fulmer nearly had her first hit in the sixth, but her first career RBI was enough. Fulmer hit a sinking liner into right field that Tech’s Blair Shimandle dove to catch. While Shimandle was getting up, pinch runner Whitney Wierzbicki crossed the plate easily to score the go-ahead run. Wierzbicki made it to third on a passed ball after checking in for freshman Jill Semento, who led off the inning with her second career double.
The run was enough for Hendon (1-4), who scattered six hits and a walk in her 10th career shutout. She struck out seven and stranded five Yellow Jackets on base. Whitney Humphries got the loss, giving up the unearned run while allowing four hits and five walks and striking out three.
Carolina, who left eight runners on in the game, loaded the bases in the first with two out but were unable to plate a run. Longo reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a Jessica Josker lineout, Semento got hit by a pitch to load the bases for Becky Martinez. However, she grounded to third to end the threat.
The Gamecock defense had an excellent game, throwing out two Yellow Jackets at the plate. In the first, Aileen Morales led off with a single and advanced to third on a stolen base and a passed ball. After Hendon struck out the next two hitters, she uncorked a wild one. Fulmer got back quickly and threw on to the covering Hendon to retire Morales at the plate and end the frame. Later, in the fourth, first baseman Whitney Haller got a one-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Tiffany Johnson walked, designated player Jessica Weaver lined a ball into left field. Sophomore Adele Voigt picked up the hit off one hop and threw a strike to Fulmer to get Haller and close out the frame.
The victory moved South Carolina to 22-0 against Georgia Tech all-time.
