Feb. 27, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Gamecocks moved their winning streak to 10 games with a 2-1 win over Houston on Friday at South Commons Stadium in the first game of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic.
The Gamecocks (12-1) got on the board in the third, as sophomore Jill Semento singled home freshman pinch runner Kaitlin Westfall and senior Ashton Payne with two down. Senior Jacqueline Wetherbee led off the inning with a single, and Westfall moved to third on Payne’s one-out single to right. The throw from Laurie Wagner actually hit Westfall as she slid, and the ball got far enough away from the Cougar defenders to allow Payne to move into scoring position. After Semento’s hit, freshman Evan Childs drew a walk on four pitches, and both Semento and Childs advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. But Houston starter Amanda Crabtree got out of the frame when sophomore P.J. Fulmer grounded out to second.
Houston (7-8) threatened in the fifth, as Amanda Gregson drew a one-out walk ahead of Angela Spittler’s infield single. The duo moved up when Katy Beth Sherman sacrificed them into scoring position. But South Carolina reliever Kierstyn White got out of the inning when Jessica Valis hit the first pitch back to White for the groundout.
The Cougars finally scored a run in the sixth, as Katie Bush came home on Christa Raley’s RBI single. Bush reached second on a throwing error by the Gamecock shortstop. After a groundout, Laurie Wagner hit the third straight ball to short, and the throw across was in the dirt, allowing Bush to move to third and Wagner to reach safely. A strikeout of Haley Valis had White nearly out of trouble, but Raley blooped the ball over short into left-centerfield, allowing Bush to score. South Carolina got out of the inning on a force at second.
Freshman starter Audrey Broyles (6-1) got the win, tossing four innings of one-hit ball. White got her third save of the year, going three innings while allowing an unearned run on three hits. Both Gamecock starters fanned two. Amanda Crabtree (4-4) got the loss for Houston, giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out seven. Senior Ashton Payne reached base all three times, going 2-for-2 with a walk.
