Feb. 24, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. – Freshman designated player Jill Semento had a career day with a 3-for-4 outing that included a double, a home run and four RBI to lead South Carolina to a 6-0 victory over Wright State on the final day of the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament. The Gamecocks, who went 3-1 on the weekend at the USF Softball Field, improve to 7-8 on the campaign. The Raiders fall to 2-8.
Three Gamecocks had three hits, including Semento. Junior Ashton Payne also went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while freshman P.J. Fulmer went 3-for-4 with three singles.
Carolina got on the board in the third on Semento’s one-out double to left center, which scored sophomore Adele Voigt and Payne. Semento then came around and crossed the plate after WSU shortstop Heather Bauer’s throw to first on Fulmer’s single hit the dirt and got away from Bridget Henry. Semento added to the lead in the fifth when her blast cleared the 190-foot sign down the left-field line.
The Gamecocks got two more runs in the sixth with two outs. Payne laced a double down the left field line and scored on Laura Mendes’ single. Semento brought home Mendes with another double to give South Carolina the 6-0 win.
Senior pitcher Melissa Hendon (2-4) tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season and 11th of her career, tying her with teammate Kate Pouliot and two others for 10th on the career list. She gave up only two hits and one walk while striking out seven Raiders. Ashleigh Jackson (0-3) got the loss, giving up seven hits, three runs, two earned, in three innings.
South Carolina returns home next weekend for the Carolina Classic, as the team will host three games each on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, against Gardner-Webb and Bucknell.
