May 2, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. – With a berth in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on the line for the home team, South Carolina wraps up its regular season at Beckham Field against the LSU Tigers. First pitch for Saturday’s doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., which will also be Alumni Day at the field, while Sunday’s single game, Senior Day for six Carolina seniors and two managers, also starts at 1 p.m.
The Tigers enter the series with a 39-14 overall record and a 15-10 SEC mark. They stand at No. 15 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/USA Today Coaches’ Top 25 while ranking 16th in the USA Softball/ESPN.com standings.
Both Teams Playing for Something
While the Gamecocks have more on the line this weekend, LSU has work to do itself. South Carolina needs at least a win and a tie to claim the eighth spot in the SEC Tournament field next week in Baton Rouge, La. Carolina could grab the seventh seed if it sweeps LSU and Kentucky sweeps Auburn on the Plains. Meanwhile, the Tigers are currently fourth in the brackets and could move anywhere from No. 3 to No. 6 depending on the weekend’s results. They trail Tennessee, who takes on current top seed Florida, by percentage points, and the Tigers would need to win one more game than the Lady Vols to move up. Georgia, hosting Alabama, is two games in back of LSU, while Mississippi State, playing at Arkansas, is 2.5 behind the tourney hosts. Sweeps by both and a Carolina sweep would drop the Tigers to the sixth spot.
Carolina in the Month of May Under Joyce Compton
In the Joyce Compton era, Carolina is 61-54 (.530) during the month of May, which includes a 21-11 (656) record in regular-season contests in the month. Last year, the Gamecocks went 6-5 in the fifth month, capturing the Columbia Regional crown in the process. The Garnet and Black have never played on May 3, while they are 2-0 on May 4.
Gamecocks All-Time vs. LSU
South Carolina has had issues when facing LSU. The Tigers lead the series, 23-10, including holding a 7-5 advantage in Columbia. Last season, the Gamecocks took one game against the nationally-ranked Tigers in the three-game series in Baton Rouge and gave the Purple and Gold all they could handle in a 10-inning thriller in the first round of the SEC Tournament before LSU triumphed. The squads have also faced off twice in SEC Tournament finals, with both programs gaining one championship in those back-to-back meetings in 2000 and 2001.
Let’s Talk About This Streaking Problem
The Gamecocks have been a very streaky team this season. Currently, the squad is on a 15-game losing streak against top 25 squads and a nine-game losing streak overall. LSU enters the weekend ranked 15th and 16th according to the two major polls.
Musical Lineups Continue for Gamecocks
Through 44 games, South Carolina has run the same eight positions players on the field in the same spots in back-to-back games on two occasions, both coming in four of the last seven games. The line-up stayed the same from the final game against Mississippi State to the first game against Alabama. After some defensive miscues and an injury, the card changed, but it stayed the same from game two of Saturday’s doubleheader to Sunday’s contest. The lineup morphed again after Chrissy Schoonmaker and Lindsay Walker became available for the Mississippi weekend series.
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.
Injuries Take a Toll on Gamecock Depth
A squad that could boast of good depth to start the season has been decimated by injuries. A pair of seniors, Lisa Longo and Chrissy Schoonmaker, missed significant time with different leg injuries. Longo had knee surgery last week that will force her to seek a medical hardship for a fifth year, while Schoonmaker injured her ankle at Kentucky and missed the next three weekends. Both freshmen Jill Semento and Laura Mendes have missed time due to injuries, Mendes twice having to miss games for different maladies. Adele Voigt also has sat out contests because of injuries, while Lindsay Walker sat out a series for an ankle injury. Of the 18 players on the roster, only Ashton Payne has played in all 44 games.
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 24 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 25 in the fifth, while over a quarter of the 121 runs allowed (42) have come across in the first two frames.
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 two extra-inning games in the ninth, while Carolina has taken two of three in eight innings.
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 (.331), runs scored (21), hits (49), doubles (6), triples (5) and total bases (65). 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 (14) and on-base percentage (.366). She stands third on the squad in batting average (.292) and slugging percentage (.392). Mendes saw her team-best 20-game on-base streak snapped in game two on March 15 against No. 22/20 Georgia, and she had an eight-game hitting string cut against Mississippi State.
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 .509 slugging percentage, .398 on-base percentage, five home runs, six doubles and six HBP. She stands second in batting average (.300), while she’s tied for second in triples (1). She has a team-best .371 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 seventh-inning blast gave Carolina the final 6-2 advantage, while she also added her third sacrifice of the season in the outing.
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 8-14 record, 1.74 ERA, five shutouts, four saves and 138 strikeouts in 141 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 5-4 record with a 1.84 ERA and one save. She picked up her latest win in relief against Coastal Carolina.
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 62 chances without an error through six 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 three errors in 12 chances during the four games she filled in there. She started at first in her only appearance last weekend at Mississippi. At the plate, Martinez has hit .160 with an on-base percentage of .276, 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 worked through seven games before Walker’s ankle injury took her out of the lineup for four games. The Fayetteville, Ga., native hit .280 since the move up the line-up, scoring three runs in the process in the seven-game winning streak. 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 .200 batting average with four doubles.
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 lineup for 24 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. She has fought back from an ankle injury that caused her to miss three weekends of SEC play to start all three games at Mississippi.
South Carolina in the NCAA Stat Rankings
The Gamecock pitching staff stands 41st in the country with a 2.04 ERA overall. Senior Melissa Hendon ranks 63rd in the nation and 10th in the SEC with her 1.74 ERA and 92nd with her 6.9 strikeouts per seven innings. Hendon’s 19th in the country and third in the league with four saves. Junior Ashton Payne is tied for 15th in the land and third in the SEC with her five triples.
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 served as the No. 2 starter most SEC weekends. 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 2.65 ERA and a save.
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 LSU Tigers
LSU brings their balanced attack to Columbia this weekend. The Tigers rank third in most of the offensive categories in the SEC statistical rankings for conference games, which includes their .419 slugging percentage and 99 runs batted in.The pitching for LSU has been solid as well, standing fifth in earned run average (2.81) and opponent batting average (.235). One weakness of the pitching staff is walks, as they have allowed 85, second-most in the league. The team is also solid defensively, ranking highest in catching would-be base thieves (28.6 percent).
Rachel Mitchell is one of the best hitters in the league. Her .434 batting average in league games stands third, while she’s also in the top 10 in slugging percentage and on-base percentage. For the year, Mitchell has hit .379 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 46 RBI, all in the top two on the team. Backing her up is Killian Roessner. She holds a .302 batting average, leads the team with 13 doubles while she’s tied with Mitchell with 10 home runs. Her 39 runs driven in put her second on the team. The Tigers have a pair of burners, Dee Dee Henderson and Jazz Jackson. Henderson has 32 stolen bases and three triples, while Jackson has 20 steals and five doubles.
The Tigers’ pitching staff comes in with some question marks. The staff ace is Dani Hofer, who has a 1.90 ERA with 210 strikeouts in 144 innings pitched. However, she has missed the past two weekends. Cody Trahan is the No. 2 starter, compiling a 15-4 record with a 2.03 ERA in 127.1 innings thrown. Tiffany Garcia (3-2, 3.32 ERA) and Casey Faile (3-1, 2.24) are also available. Both have made one start in SEC play.
The Last Time – South Carolina vs. LSU – May 6, 2007
In a hard fought 10-inning battle, LSU’s Killian Roessner hit a two-out sacrifice fly to score Jazz Jackson for the winning run and the 2-1 victory over South Carolina in day one of the SEC Softball Tournament. Held at Jane B. Moore Field on the campus of Auburn University, the Gamecocks were eliminated from the tournament as they fell to 34-23 on the season. McKenna Hughes hit her 10th home run of the season, tying the school record, while Melissa Hendon pitched her longest outing of the season, 9.2 innings, in the hard-luck loss. Dani Hofer also pitched her longest outing of the season as she gave up one run on six hits in 10 innings pitched.
