April 13, 2011
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Junior first baseman Molly Brossart delivered a clutch three-run homer in the sixth to propel South Carolina (21-20) to a 4-3 victory over USC Upstate (34-10) on Wednesday afternoon at Cyrill Stadium.
Brossart came up with two runners on and one out and belted the 2-1 pitch over the wall in left center. That plated sophomore Hannah Milks and junior Evan Childs, who pinch ran for senior Laura Mendes, after USC Upstate pitcher Morgan Childers issued two straight walks before Brossart.
The Gamecocks scored their first run in the fifth, as freshman Dana Hathorn got a leadoff single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored after two consecutive wild pitches.
The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Jenna Torbert lined a two-out double into left center, scoring pinch runners Haley Sheehan and Erin Schattle. In the sixth, Upstate cut the Gamecock lead to one when Cheyanna Ohlrich hit a double to left, scoring Katie Zauner after she collected a leadoff single and moved to second on a wild pitch.
South Carolina redshirt sophomore Audrey Broyles (5-6) went the distance in the win, allowing three earned runs on three hits while striking out three and not walking anyone. She needed just 78 pitches to get through the game. Childers (24-6) took the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and three walks while striking out seven.
One of four Gamecocks with a hit, senior P.J. Fulmer joined Brossart in the extra-base-hit category with her ninth double of the year. Torbert and Ohlrich had two of Upstate’s three hits.
South Carolina goes to Fayetteville, Ark., for a big three-game series against Arkansas. The clash begins on Friday at 8 p.m. EDT at Bogle Park, with game two starting at 1 p.m. EDT on Saturday to accommodate a SportSouth broadcast. Sunday’s finale is slated for a 3 p.m. EDT start, with ESPNU providing a national broadcast.
