Feb. 19, 2010
| Coach Compton |
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Gamecocks (5-1) saw their season-opening winning streak come to an end with a 4-1 loss to host UCF (2-3) in the Gamecocks’ second game of the UCF Invitational.
Junior April Borchardt had two of the Gamecocks’ five hits, while sophomore Evan Childs had a hit and a run scored. The single extended Childs’ hitting streak to six games. Tiffany Lane led the Knights with two hits, a run scored and an RBI.
UCF got on the board first on Hillary Barrow’s RBI single in the first, but the Gamecocks responded with sophomore Kaitlin Westfall’s RBI knock in the second. The Knights retook the lead in the second on Lane’s single to right, which scored Morgan Bullard. Abby McClain tried to follow, but the throw from right fielder Lauren Lackey was on target to catch the Knights’ leadoff hitter at the plate.
The Gamecocks threatened in the fifth, getting two runners on first and second with just one out, but UCF starter Ashleigh Cole got a pair of strikeouts to get out of the jam.
The Knights added two insurance runs in the sixth on three Gamecock errors. A throwing error allowed the leadoff runner Barrow on base, and a dropped catch at first gave her the chance to score. An another dropped catch on Cole’s sacrifice attempt let Vanessa Perez scamper home to put UCF up by the final, 4-1.
Cole (2-1) went the distance, fanning seven while giving up one earned run on five hits and three walks for the win. Junior Ashley Chastain (2-1) got the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk in two innings. Sophomore Audrey Broyles pitched well in relief, allowing just one hit in four innings of work. Lackey had two assists from right field in the game and three on the day.
South Carolina returns to action on Saturday at 9 a.m. against Villanova before playing North Florida immediately following.
