March 5, 2010
| Coach Compton |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The 2010 Easton SEC/Midwest Challenge started off sourly for South Carolina (8-7), as the Gamecocks fell to DePaul, 6-0, in the opening contest at the Alabama Softball Stadium.
The Blue Demons (7-4) took the 1-0 lead in the third when Becca Heteniak blasted a 3-1 pitch over the left-field wall. DePaul added three in the fifth thanks to four Gamecock errors. With one out, Sean Plese singled, and Heteniak drew a walk ahead of Alex Morocco. She hit the ball to the left side, where the Gamecocks booted it, but junior leftfielder April Borchardt picked up her teammate, gunning down Plese at the plate for the second out of the inning. Simone Ashkar singled up the middle, driving home pinch runner Sarah Shizas, while an errant throw allowed Morocco to score. Another fielding error put runners at first and third, which set up the final score. A steal of second accompanied an airmailed throw back to the plate to hand DePaul the 4-0 advantage.
DePaul added two more in the sixth, both forced in when a pitch hit Plese with the bases loaded before Ashkar drew the two-out bases-loaded walk. Both runs in the inning were unearned after two more South Carolina errors.
Heteniak (4-3) tossed the complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits while fanning 13 Gamecocks. Sophomore Audrey Broyles (3-2) got the tough loss, giving up four runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out three. The seven errors by South Carolina is a new record, topping the six that came in a 9-2 loss to Georgia on April 6, 2005. The individual error mark also fell, as senior Lindsay Walker had four in the contest.
South Carolina continues in the event tomorrow against No. 7 Michigan, with first pitch set for 11 a.m. CT.
