Melissa Hendon’s Shutout Hands Carolina A Series Win over Arkansas, 4-0

March 9, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Melissa Hendon struck out 10 for the second game in a row in a 4-0 South Carolina victory over Arkansas on Sunday at Beckham Field. The victory hands the Gamecocks a series win in the first Southeastern Conference set this season, moving the squad to 13-9, 2-1 in league play. The Lady Razorbacks fall to 19-6 and 1-2 in the SEC.

Hendon got a lot of help from sophomore shortstop Lindsay Walker, who went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, which matches a career best. Junior Ashton Payne also went 2-for-3, extending her hitting streak to 17 games.

The Gamecocks wasted no time getting on the board, loading the bases with one out in the first ahead of senior third baseman Becky Martinez. She got hit by the 2-0 pitch from Arkansas starter Kim Jones, bringing home Payne. Lady’Back relief pitcher Katy Henry got a strikeout before Walker laced a double to left center, scoring freshman Laura Mendes and senior Jessica Josker.

Carolina added to the 3-0 lead when Walker again came through with two outs. In the third, freshman Jill Semento led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a Josker groundout. Martinez singled before a second strikeout by junior Jacqueline Wetherbee. Walker hit the first pitch she saw in the at-bat back through the middle, plating Semento and stretching the lead to 4-0.

Hendon (5-4) was brilliant in the circle, scattering three hits and a walk in her fourth shutout of the year. The 10-strikeout game marks the 11th time in her career that she sat down that many hitters. Kim Jones (2-2) picked up the loss, allowing three earned runs on one hit and a walk in just one-third of an inning. Katy Henry went 5.2 innings, giving up six hits and one earned run while striking out four.

The Gamecocks travel to Athens, Ga., to face the Georgia Bulldogs, for a three-game series next Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16. All three games will be broadcast live on GamecocksOnline.com