April 18, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. – With just three weekends to play before the Southeastern Conference Tounament, the Gamecocks of South Carolina head west on Interstate 20 to Tuscaloosa, Ala., where they will tangle with the top-ranked Crimson Tide of Alabama in a three-game series. First pitch for Saturday’s doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. CDT, while Sunday’s contest begins at 1:30 p.m.
Alabama enters the weekend with a 41-3 mark overall and 20-2 league record, fresh off a doubleheader sweep at Arkansas on Thursday evening. The wins clinched at least a share of the SEC Western Division title for Bama, the program’s fourth in history. The Crimson Tide moved to No. 1 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/USA Today coaches poll this week, while they stand at No. 2 in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings.
Carolina in the Month of April Under Joyce Compton
In the Joyce Compton era, Carolina is 287-137-1 (.676) during the fourth month of the year. Last season, the Gamecocks went 7-9 in April. All-time on April 19, Carolina owns a 6-6 mark, which includes a doubleheader split against Alabama in 2003. The Gamecocks’ record on April 20 stands at 6-2.
Gamecocks All-Time vs. Alabama
Alabama has been a power since starting their program at the inception of the Southeastern Conference’s sponsorship of the sport began in 1997. And they have dominated the series recently against the Gamecocks. South Carolina is 14-19 all-time against the Crimson Tide, including an 11-game losing streak that started in 2004. Chrissy Schoonmaker is the only Gamecock player to witness a victory over the nation’s current No. 1 team, as she had a single in the 3-1 win on April 17, 2004. In Tuscaloosa, the Garnet and Black hold a 4-9 mark.
Payne Leading the Way at the Plate
Junior Ashton Payne has been the sparkplug for the Gamecock lineup this season. The Richmond, Va., native leads the squad in batting average (.351), runs scored (20), hits (46), triples (4) and total bases (59). She saw her hitting streak of 18 games snapped in the second game against No. 22/20 Georgia. That streak is the third-longest documented string in Gamecock history, and the longest since 2003, when Jodi Fittro had an 11-game stretch. Of course, Payne is no stranger to hitting streaks. She owns the longest skein during both of her previous two seasons on campus, both 10 games. She had a seven-game string snapped in game two of the doubleheader against Auburn.
Mendes Making Mark in Freshman Campaign
Laura Mendes has been a force in Joyce Compton’s lineup so far in 2008. The rookie outfielder earned SEC Freshman of the Week accolades after her five-run, two-double weekend in the series win over Arkansas. She hit .333 against the Lady’Backs, driving in the tying run in the seventh inning of the first game before scoring on Jessica Josker’s walk-off single.
The Loxahatchee, Fla., native is tied for the team lead in doubles (6) and walks (13) while ranking second in runs (19), home runs (2), runs batted in (13) and on-base percentage (.393). She stands third on the squad in batting average (.311) and slugging percentage (.427). Mendes saw her team-best 20-game on-base streak snapped in game two on March 15 against No. 22/20 Georgia, but she had an eight-game hitting string cut against Mississippi State.
Musical Lineups Continue for Gamecocks
Through 38 games, South Carolina has yet to run the same eight positions players on the field in the same spots in back-to-back games. During the most recent seven-game winning streak, the squad stayed its most consistent in positions and line-up spots on the season. There was just one change of personnel and one batting order swap before the first game against Mississippi State, a contest where the squad fell, 1-0. After that, the card turned in by Joyce Compton changed around the lineup for both of the final two games of the series.
Senior Pitchers Finishing Careers Strong
After a rough start to the season, senior pitchers Melissa Hendon and Kate Pouliot have come around recently. Both finished in the SEC top 10 in earned run average last season, and now they are bidding to do that yet again. Hendon had a stretch of five consecutive winning starts from Georgia Tech through the second game against Arkansas, four of those in shutouts. During the winning streak, she fanned 46 in seven appearances (37.1 innings). She also collected a save during that stretch. She had a pair of 10-strikeout games against Arkansas, allowing only one earned run combined in the two contests. After dropping four straight, she came back to take three in a row, getting a pair of victories and a save at Kentucky before collecting a win and a save in the doubleheader against Auburn. Hendon currently leads the team with her 8-10 record, four saves and 119 strikeouts in 120.2 innings.
Pouliot had a great weekend in the Carolina Classic. She carried a perfect game into the sixth against Bucknell in her first game before allowing a run in the seventh, the only run to score against Carolina during the home tournament. Not satisfied with Saturday’s work, Pouliot came back on Sunday and was even better, throwing her first career no-hitter against the Bison. She matched her season best with seven K’s while allowing only one walk in the contest. She now has a 5-2 record with a team-best 1.47 ERA and one save. She picked up her latest win in relief against Coastal Carolina.
Semento Stepping Up During Her Freshman Season
Rookie Jill Semento has been a big part of Carolina’s offense during 2008. The Umatilla, Fla., freshman leads the team with her .567 slugging percentage, .420 on-base percentage, five home runs and four HBP. She stands second in batting average (.330), while she’s tied for second in doubles (5) and triples (1). She has a team-best .382 mark with runners in scoring position.
Semento had an outstanding game at Coastal Carolina, going 3-for-3 with a double and a grand slam. The blast gave Carolina the final 6-2 advantage in the seventh, while she also added her third sacrifice of the season in the outing.
Bases Loaded Not Always Best Situation to Score, Especially Right Off
The Gamecocks have been adept at loading the bases this season. Scoring runs in those situations has been a different topic, particularly in the first inning. Nine times in 2008 has South Carolina loaded the bases, and only once has the squad scored, that coming against Michigan with one out. Contrast that to the seventh, where the Garnet and Black have packed the sacks on four occasions, three with two outs. Runs came home all four times, including one to tie the game against North Florida (2/10) and a pair of come-from-behind efforts to beat Kentucky (3/29) and Coastal Carolina (4/9). The team also has success in the fifth with the bases juiced, scoring seven runs in the six occurrences, the latest coming in game two against Auburn with no one out before Lindsay Walker’s bases-clearing triple. Carolina has gone 12-for-40 (.300) with the bases loaded.
What Is It with Odd-Numbered Innings?
Don’t expect the Gamecocks to score too many runs in even-numbered innings. Out of the 104 runs compiled by South Carolina, just 23 have come in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings. The squad likes to add on runs in the final inning the most, scoring 24 in the seventh. The Garnet and Black have also scored 23 in the third and 21 in the first. Opponents also should strike early. The most runs Carolina has given up is 20 in the fifth, with the other double-digit innings coming in the first (17), second (16), fourth (12) and sixth (10).
Martinez More Versatile Than She Ever Knew
Senior third baseman Becky Martinez had made a seamless transition across the diamond. The senior had played 148 games at third base in her career (as well as 16 in the outfield as a freshman) before Joyce Compton penciled her in as the starting first baseman in the final game at Kentucky. She has taken to her new corner well, handling 55 chances without an error through five games. She had made seven errors at the hot corner already this season. Her most recent move has seen her at shortstop, filling in after Lindsay Walker’s injury in the second game against Mississippi State. She committed one error in three chances during the seven innings she has filled in there. At the plate, Martinez has hit .178 with an on-base percentage of .302, fourth on the team.
Walker’s Resurgence Comes in Move Up the Lineup
Sophomore shortstop Lindsay Walker had been struggling with the bat in 2008. So what does Hall of Fame coach Joyce Compton do? Moves her to the second spot for the first time in her career. It has worked through seven games. The Fayetteville, Ga., native has hit .280 since the move up the line-up, scoring three runs in the process. Her biggest contribution came with her bases-loaded triple in game two against Auburn, giving the Gamecocks the lead and eventual win. She has proven to be adept handling the bat with six sacrifices in the skein, including three in the first game at Kentucky. Those bunts have solidified a weakness the club had, as she is the eighth person to hold down the No. 2 spot. For the season, Walker now has a .220 batting average with four doubles. She could be out this weekend, as she suffered an ankle injury against Mississippi State.
Robinson Looking Strong Returning from Elbow Surgery
Redshirt freshman Krystle Robinson had a rough go of things during her first year in Columbia. She pitched in just five games before a torn ligament in her throwing arm ended her season. Now after working her way back, she has become the force that Joyce Compton and staff thought she could be after recruiting her from Valdosta, Ga. Robinson threw two straight shutouts against Wisconsin and Gardner-Webb, mowing down a career-high 12 batters in the complete-game victory over the Runnin’ Bulldogs. For the season, Robinson is 7-6 with a 2.39 ERA and a save.
Schoonmaker Contributes After Life-Threatening Injury
What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, senior Chrissy Schoonmaker had a halo on her upper body to support a neck that had been broken in three places. On Feb. 8, Schoonmaker finally took the field to start her senior season. The Sebastian, Fla., native has made an amazing recovery from the injury suffered in an accident during her trip back to Columbia, S.C., from Thanksgiving break in 2006. The redshirt senior co-captain, who has started at numerous positions for the Gamecocks in her career, has been penciled into the line-up for 19 games while playing in five others so far in 2008. She has shown her versatility as well, starting games at all four infield positions this season. Battling an ankle injury sustained at Kentucky, Schoonmaker is unlikely to play this weekend.
Extra Innings Breakdown
If the Gamecocks don’t end things in the eighth, there’s a good chance they won’t win. Opponents have won one extra-inning games in the ninth, while Carolina has taken two of three in eight innings.
South Carolina in the NCAA Stat Rankings
The Gamecock pitching staff stands 34th in the country with a 1.81 ERA overall. Senior Melissa Hendon ranks 54th in the nation with her 1.57 ERA.
Gamecocks Very Experienced Going Into 2008
Eight position players and the entire pitching staff from a year ago are back for head coach Joyce Compton’s NCAA Super Regional club. In terms of the offense back, Carolina returned 81 percent of its hits, 76 percent of its runs, 72 percent of its doubles, 71 percent of its runs batted in, 81 percent of its stolen bases and 69 percent of its walks. The only category that the Garnet and Black have a hole to make up is home runs, where only 48 percent are back. The 11 long balls hit last year by McKenna Hughes was a single-season record.
South Carolina Picked to Finish Fourth in SEC East
Despite returning nearly every starter from last season’s NCAA Regional championship squad, the Southeastern Conference coaches picked the Gamecocks to finish fourth in the five-team SEC East in their preseason poll. Florida was chosen to win the East, while Tennessee was picked second. Georgia was selected third, while Kentucky came in fifth. Alabama was the coaches’ choice to win the SEC West and the overall crown.
Scouting the Alabama Crimson Tide
The Gamecocks face a speedy squad for the second-consecutive weekend, as the Crimson Tide have swiped 122 bases in 137 attempts. Brittany Rogers leads the pack, taking 44 bases in 49 tries. She hits .455 out of the leadoff spot. Jordan Praytor hits second and reaches base at a .438 clip, thanks to 28 walks. Praytor is 20-for-21 in stolen base attempts. Bama also has power in the form of Charlotte Morgan. The pitcher hits .408 and slugs .800, leading the squad in doubles (15), home runs (12) and runs batted in (52). Six Tide regulars hit over .300, while four have more than 30 RBI.
Morgan holds a perfect 12-0 record in the circle with a team-leading 1.01 ERA. The workhorse of the staff is Kelsi Dunne. She has tossed 132.2 innings, compiling a 1.42 ERA and a 17-3 record, sitting down 182 batters. Chrissy Owens has a perfect 11-0 record with a 1.99 ERA. She’s struck out just over a batter an inning (78 in 77.1 innings).
The Tide’s also solid defensively, making just 28 errors on the campaign. The have a .976 fielding percentage. Teams have been able to run on Alabama, stealing 16 bases in 20 attempts.
The Last Time – South Carolina vs. Alabama – March 18, 2007
In a hard fought battle, the University of South Carolina softball team dropped the final game of the three-game series, 3-1, against the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide. Melissa Hendon took the loss and fell to 10-4, 2-3 in SEC action, while Blair Potter earned the victory and improved to 6-0.
