March 19, 2008
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Scoreless through eight innings, No. 8/9 Tennessee got two runs in the top of the ninth to down South Carolina, 2-0, in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Beckham Field. The loss dropped the Gamecocks to 13-13 on the season, 2-5 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Lady Vols move to 26-4 and 4-3.
In the ninth, Anita Manuma grounded to second base to lead off, but the ball went under Ashton Payne’s glove on her backhand attempt to allow Manuma to reach. Lillian Hammond followed with a bunt that she beat out for a hit. Kelly Grieve followed and hit a sharp grounder to third that hit senior third baseman Becky Martinez’s glove and bounded to shortstop Lindsay Walker, coming to cover third, who grabbed it to force Manuma. Pinch-hitter Chandra Mogan took a 1-2 pitch from Gamecock starter Melissa Hendon back thru the middle for a hit, plating Hammond. Two-time All-American Tonya Callahan followed with a perfectly-executed suicide squeeze, allowing Grieve to score. Hendon then got out of the inning when Shannon Doepking flew out to right.
The Lady Vols threatened in the top of the seventh, as Tennessee put the first two runners on base. Jen Lapicki led off the frame with a single, and Manuma followed with another single. Pinch-runner Kelsey Stander went to third on the hit, and Manuma advanced to second behind the throw. Hammond grounded the 1-2 pitch to Walker, who had a perfect throw to freshman catcher Cassie Gogreve so she could tag Stander for the first out. Grieve then drew a walk to load the bases ahead of Kenora Posey. Posey hit the first pitch back to Hendon, who got the force at the plate. Callahan came up next, and Hendon induced a pop up that Gogreve caught in foul territory to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Carolina had a golden opportunity to score. Martinez looped a double into right center to start the frame. Senior Chrissy Schoonmaker sacrificed Martinez to third. Gogreve reached first on a dropped pop-up by Lapicki to put runners on first and third with just one out. Junior Jacqueline Wetherbee pinch-hit for the Gamecocks, grounding the ball to Posey at second. Posey tagged Gogreve running by and sprinted to first ahead of Wetherbee for the double play, getting Tennessee out of the frame and keeping the game scoreless.
Hendon (5-7) got the tough-luck loss, as she scattered 10 hits and two walks through nine innings, allowing two runs, one earned, while striking out five. Tennessee’s Ashton Ward (15-2) got the victory, allowing two hits and one walk in nine, sitting down five Gamecock hitters.
