Feb. 11, 2011

Box Score | Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A new chapter started the Gamecocks’ 2011 season off on the right foot, as South Carolina downed Charleston Southern, 10-6, in the season opener for both squads at Beckham Field on Friday afternoon.

The win started off head coach Beverly Smith’s tenure on the right foot, joining six of her predecessors in winning their first game at the helm. Prior to the game, Athletics Director Eric Hyman threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the contest.

Sophomore shortstop Samie Garcia made a great first impression on offense in her debut, going 2-for-4 with a two-run triple, a stolen base and a run scored. Senior designated player Laura Mendes reached base in all three plate appearances and drove in two runs with her two-run blast in the third. Senior catcher P.J. Fulmer also drove in a pair of runs, while junior outfielder Kaitlin Westfall went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Junior second baseman Evan Childs scored twice, while freshman Chelsea Hawkins and junior first baseman Molly Brossart both added doubles.

Garcia gave South Carolina the lead for good in the fourth, lining a ball over the Buccaneer leftfielder for her three-bagger, which plated Westfall and junior centerfielder Lauren Lackey. The Gamecocks originally took the lead in the third when Garcia scored after the throw to first on sophomore rightfielder Hannah Milks’ bunt glanced off the outstretched glove of the Bucs’ first baseman. Mendes followed with the blast to the opposite field for a 3-2 lead.

Charleston Southern struck first on Erin Kegley’s two-run shot in the first before tying things up in the bottom of the third when Trea Steele singled home pinch runner Ari Tedesco.

The Gamecocks tacked on five more runs in the fifth and sixth, four of those coming in the fifth. Junior third baseman Kelley Dillon got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home pinch runner Jackie Slawson. Westfall’s sacrifice fly drove in junior second baseman Evan Childs, and Fulmer plated Dillon and pinch runner Dana Hathorn in the fifth. The lone Gamecock run in the sixth came on Brossart’s two-out double, which scored Childs.

The Buccaneers tried to come back in the bottom of the sixth, getting three unearned runs on Megan Lombard’s home run. But Gamecock redshirt sophomore Audrey Broyles got a fly ball to center to end the inning before fanning the side in the seventh to finish the game.

Senior April Borchardt (1-0) got the win, striking out five while walking one in a hitless two innings of relief. Broyles fanned four while giving up two hits and three unearned runs. Junior Kierstyn White started for South Carolina, sitting down four while walking one and giving up six hits and three runs, two earned. Kimberly Hobbs (0-1) took the loss for Charleston Southern, allowing nine earned runs on eight hits and three walks.

Earlier in the day, Winthrop defeated Furman, 12-4, in six innings, while Coastal Carolina squeaked past the Paladins, 6-4, in eight innings. In the nightcap, USC Upstate did not allow a hit in an 8-0 (six inning) win over Coastal.

South Carolina takes on Furman and Coastal Carolina at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. EDT, respectively, in the second day of the Palmetto State Showdown.