May 3, 2008
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The LSU Tigers scored five runs in the first three innings and held on through a furious Carolina rally to claim a 5-3 victory in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader at Beckham Field. No. 15/16 LSU moves to 40-14 on the season and 16-10 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Gamecocks fell to 20-25 on the year, 7-17 in league play.
LSU rushed out to a 2-0 lead in the first when Quinlan Duhon sent a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a two-run blast. Shannon Stein scored on the shot after drawing a one-out walk.
The Tigers added to the advantage in the third with back-to-back doubles. Rachel Mitchell hit one off the top of the wall in right center to plate Dee Dee Henderson, who reached on an error after her sacrifice bunt attempt. Duhon followed with a double down the left field line, plating Stein and Mitchell to give LSU the 5-0 lead.
The Gamecocks tried to tie the contest in the sixth. Junior Ashton Payne doubled home freshman P.J. Fulmer, who started the rally with a one-out single. After a hit batsman loaded the bases, freshman Laura Mendes blooped a single into left center, scoring senior Becky Martinez and Payne. LSU then brought in reliever Casey Faile, who hit Jill Semento before getting a pair of strikeouts to escape the bases loaded jam with a 5-3 lead.
Gamecock senior pitcher Melissa Hendon (8-15) gave up five runs, four earned, on four walks and six hits while striking out four. Trahan (16-4) tossed 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, three runs, two walks while sitting down eight for the win. Casey Faile picked up her first career save, fanning four in 1.2 innings.
