March 16, 2011
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina hung in with top-ranked Georgia in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, but the Bulldogs ultimately came out on top, 8-4, at Beckham Field.
Sophomore shortstop Samie Garcia drove in three of the Gamecock runs while going 2-for-4 with a double and a triple. Five other Gamecocks had hits, including a double by sophomore rightfielder Hannah Milks. Brianna Hesson went 3-for-4 for the Bulldogs, driving in two, while Kristyn Sandberg was 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and three runs driven in. Taylor Schlopy and Alisa Goler also had homers for the Bulldogs.
Georgia took the 1-0 lead in the first on Goler’s blast to center. That lead grew to 5-0 in the third thanks to a Schlopy leadoff homer, a Hesson RBI single and Sandberg’s two-run home run to left.
The Gamecocks got a run back in the bottom of the third, as junior centerfielder Lauren Lackey pushed a single through the left side with two outs. Garcia followed with the RBI triple to right-center, making it 5-1 Georgia.
South Carolina threatened to tie it in the fifth. With the bases loaded and no one out, Garcia delivered a double to left center, driving home junior third baseman Evan Childs and senior catcher P.J. Fulmer after they both reached on singles. Senior designated player Laura Mendes drove a ball to deep center, allowing Lackey to score from third on the sac fly to make it 5-4 Georgia. With the tying run at third, Bulldog reliever Sarah McCloud got out of the jam with a fly ball to left.
The Bulldogs got three insurance runs in the seventh. Hesson plated two with her RBI hit to right, while another scored after the ball got to the wall. Sandberg followed with a run-scoring double, plating Hesson.
Georgia freshman Morgan Montemayor (10-1) got the win, giving up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two in four innings of work. Alison Owen got the save, giving up a hit in two innings of work, fanning two. Gamecock freshman Julie Sarratt (4-3) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits in 2.2 innings.
