Feb. 18, 2011

Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – South Carolina (4-3) picked up a 10-2 win in five innings over Georgetown (0-1) in the Gamecocks’ second game on Friday afternoon at the Florida Gulf Coast University Tournament.

Gamecock freshman second baseman Dana Hathorn, making her first career start, went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Senior catcher P.J. Fulmer had two hits, while junior centerfielder Lauren Lackey hit her first career home run, an inside-the-park three-run job.

After falling behind to Georgetown thanks to Chikara Lowe’s two-run homer in the first, South Carolina came back with six in the second to take control. Hathorn drove home junior third baseman Kelley Dillon to cut the Georgetown lead in half. Lackey followed with a shot that the Hoya rightfielder almost caught over her shoulder. After the fielder hit the ground and the ball rolled away, Lackey turned on the jets and slid in under the tag at the plate after Hathorn and pinch runner Jackie Slawson, giving the Gamecocks a lead they would never relinquish.

The run parade continued in the second when sophomore shortstop Samie Garcia scored on a wild pitch after her double to center put her aboard. A dropped fly ball allowed senior rightfielder Laura Mendes score from second to make it 6-2.

The score stayed the same into the fifth, when the Gamecocks pushed across four more runs to wrap up the contest. Hathorn drove in her second run with a shot off the Hoya pitcher, while she and Fulmer both scored after an error by the shortstop on freshman Julie Sarratt’s grounder. Sarratt moved to second on the play, representing the potential game-ending run. A fifth Hoya error helped junior Kylie Morin, who checked back into run for Sarratt, to wrap the game, as Georgetown’s first baseman misplayed a ball and allowed Morin to scamper home from second.

South Carolina starter Audrey Broyles (1-1) picked up her first win of the season with a complete game, giving up two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four. Georgetown’s Mackensey Carter (0-1) took the loss, giving up six runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks in four innings of work.

The Gamecocks scored 10 for the second time this season, matching the number of games they scored in double figures last year already. The team also had no errors for the second game this season, helping snap a three-game losing streak.

South Carolina gets a rematch with Villanova on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. EST in the Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Tournament before facing the host Eagles at 8:15 p.m.