Sept. 20, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina kicked off its fall softball exhibitions with a resounding 20-2 win over Spartanburg Methodist College, as several Gamecocks put together outstanding days at the plate.

Junior Evan Childs and freshman Sarah Eidt each drove in four runs, while a trio of Gamecocks, including Childs, senior Laura Mendes and sophomore Hannah Milks, scored three runs. Childs hit the lone home run, while Milks logged two extra-base hits with a double and a triple. Eidt and junior college transfer Samantha Garcia both added triples. Milks joined junior Lauren Lackey with a 3-for-3 outing.

The Gamecocks erupted for seven runs in the first and 10 in the second to take command of the contest. The Pioneers got a run in the top of the fourth before the Gamecocks answered with two in the bottom half. SMC scored a run again in the fifth, while the Gamecocks ended the scoring with a run in the eighth. South Carolina went down 1-2-3 in just two of the nine innings played.

In the circle, seniors Ashley Chastain and April Borchardt had the most impressive outings. Chastain started and threw a perfect inning before coming back for the third, fourth and fifth innings. She allowed five hits and two runs, one earned, striking out five in the combined four innings. Borchardt pitched the final two innings, getting all six outs via strikeout while walking one.

The game marked the first competition since Beverly Smith took over the South Carolina program this July.

South Carolina takes this weekend off before returning to the diamond for four games on the first weekend of October. The Gamecocks will face Florida State College of Jacksonville and Charlotte on Fri., Oct. 1, at 4 and 8 p.m., respectively. Lander, a NCAA Division II team in Greenwood, S.C., comes to Beckham Field for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 2.