Feb. 18, 2012
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
MIAMI, Fla. – Two errors in the third inning doomed South Carolina (5-2) in a 3-1 loss to Florida International (4-4) on Saturday night at the FIU Softball Complex.
All three Golden Panther runs came in the third that started when Alex Casals reach on an error by the Gamecock shortstop. A fielder’s choice led Casals reach second when the throw hit the runner sliding into the bag. A single to right by Ashley McClain loaded the bases for FIU. Beth Peller hit a grounder to second, and sophomore Dana Hathorn knocked down the ball and got the out at first, but Casals scored on the play. After a foul out, Shelby Graves hit a single to left, scoring Megan Horne. A misplay by the Gamecock leftfielder allowed McClain to score as well, making it 3-0.
The Gamecocks got on the board with their only two hits in the game coming with two down in the fifth. Senior centerfielder Lauren Lackey hit a single off FIU pitcher Mariah Dawson, and junior Samie Garcia followed with a double to left center on the next pitch, scoring Lackey from first to close the gap to 3-1.
South Carolina got the tying run to the plate with one out in the seventh after freshman pinch hitter Lacey Rother drew a walk, but Dawson got a pop out and a fly out to end the frame and contest.
Dawson (3-1) got the win, giving up the one earned run on two hits and three walks. She struck out three. Redshirt junior Audrey Broyles (1-1) took the hard-luck loss, allowing three unearned runs on four hits and a walk, while she fanned one in four innings. Freshman Katelynn Howser tossed two spotless innings in relief for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks close out their stay at the Blue & Gold Feisberg Memorial with two games on Sunday, with the first one starting at 11 a.m. against Jacksonville.
