March 30, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Gamecocks scored eight runs on the day as they completed the three-game sweep of Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at the UK Softball Complex. The victory moves South Carolina to 16-15 on the season and 5-7 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Wildcats fall to 1-8 in league play and 13-17 overall.
Freshman Laura Mendes got two of Carolina’s eight hits on the day while also scoring a run. Freshman Jill Semento and senior Becky Martinez both had a hit, a run scored and two RBI in the contest.
The Garnet and Black got things started with two runs in the first. Sophomore Lindsay Walker scored when Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk, while Mendes crossed the plate when Kentucky catcher Megan Yocke took her foot off the plate while trying to receive the throw for the force.
Kentucky got within one in the second. Molly Johnson led off the inning with a single. She stole second and moved to third on Ashley Dimkich’s groundout. Johnson crossed the plate when Hendon’s pitch glanced off the glove of the Carolina catcher and went to the backstop.
The Wildcats had a good opportunity to take the lead in the fourth. Yocke led off the frame with a double and moved to third on Natalie Smith’s sacrifice. Johnson then reach on a hit by pitch, which set up the madness. Kentucky attempted a squeeze bunt, but Meagan Aull missed the 0-1 pitch. Yocke got caught off of third, and freshman Cassie Gogreve started the rundown. Johnson stole second and got all the way to third during the fracas. Eventually, centerfielder Adele Voigt tagged one of the runners out, while Martinez got the other runner out.
South Carolina put two more on the board in the fifth. Junior Ashton Payne got a one-out triple, while a pitch hit Walker to give Carolina runners at first and third with one down. Mendes hit one back up the middle that reliever Jennifer Young could not handle, allowing Payne to score. Semento drew a walk to load the bases ahead of Martinez’s grounder. Johnson got the out at third, forcing out Mendes while Walker scored.
Four more Gamecocks scored in the seventh. Mendes got a one-out double ahead of Semento’s third home run of the season. Martinez followed with a single and moved to third on Jessica Josker’s double. After a groundout, Gogreve’s groundball to third was mishandled, allowing both Martinez and Josker to score.
Senior Melissa Hendon (7-8) got her second win of the weekend, allowing one unearned run on three hits while sitting down five. Amber Matousek (7-11) got the loss, allowing one hit, one walk and two unearned runs while striking out two in two innings.
The Gamecocks have a mid-week date at Winthrop on Wed., April 2, before returning to SEC play against Auburn at Beckham Field on April 5-6.
