March 15, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (19-9, 2-3 SEC) looks for better fortunes on the road, as the Gamecocks head to Gainesville for a three-game set against No. 4 Florida (23-2, 4-1 SEC). Friday’s contest is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch, while both Saturday’s and Sunday’s games are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Saturday’s game will be televised on Sun Sports in Florida and some sports cable and satellite packages nationally. All three games will have Gametracker live stats and a live audio stream at GamecocksOnline.com.
Childs’ Game-Ending Blast New Feeling for These Gamecocks
South Carolina senior Evan Childs ended the series finale against Arkansas with a two-run home run, helping the team claim its first win of the season when trailing heading into the seventh inning. Childs’ walk-off shot is the first for the Gamecocks since McKenna Hughes ended a nine-inning affair against Ole Miss in similar fashion in the second game of the doubleheader on May 5, 2007. It was Hughes’ ninth round-tripper in her program-best 11-homer year.
While Starting a New Streak, Garcia Still Strong Atop Lineup
Shortstop Samie Garcia saw her 21-game hitting streak snapped in the first game versus Arkansas, the second-longest documented skein in Gamecock history. But Garcia rebounded, posting doubles in both Gamecock wins to help take the series. The junior ranks leads the team and the SEC with a .462 batting average and with 42 hits. She’s also second in the SEC in runs and tied for fourth in doubles and triples.
Her biggest day came in front of her family and the largest crowd of the weekend at the Highlander Classic, when Garcia went 3-for-4 with the game-tying RBI double in the 3-2 comeback win over UC Davis. And during the Blue & Gold Feisberg Memorial, she led the team with nine RBI in the event. Her grand slam versus Providence helped propel South Carolina to the 9-1 (5) win.
Westfall A Double Machine in Early Going . . .
Senior leftfielder Kaitlin Westfall leads the SEC with 13 doubles this season, two shy of making South Carolina’s single-season top-10 list. Westfall has five more than the two tied behind her, which includes sophomore teammate Dana Hathorn. Five of Westfall’s came in the Blue & Gold Feisberg Memorial, as she posted two each in wins over Illinois-Chicago and Villanova.
While Lackey Likes Stretching It to Three . . .
Senior outfielder Lauren Lackey has four triples on the year, tying for the SEC lead. Lackey is looking to be the first Gamecock since Ashton Payne in 2007-08 to lead the team in triples in consecutive seasons. Tied for ninth on the Gamecocks’ career triples chart with nine, one more would push Lackey into a tie for seventh with two former standouts, including two-time All-American Karen Sanchelli.
Childs Prefers to Trot
Senior third baseman Evan Childs has tallied eight homers on the year, the last two sending the Gamecocks to an 8-7 victory over Arkansas in the series finale on March 11. It was her second-career two-homer game, tying the program’s single-game record again, and pushed her to eight on the year, tying four others for fifth in a single season in Gamecock history. With 14 in her career, she’s tied for ninth on South Carolina’s all-time list with Kim Pietro. She’s vying to be the first Gamecock since McKenna Hughes (2004-07) to lead the team in homers twice in her career.
Carolina in the Month of March
Since 1984, the Gamecocks are 422-215-3 (.662) in the third month of the year. Last season, the mark was 8-11 in March for South Carolina.
The Long Ball Proving to Be Bellweather Again for Gamecocks
The 2012 Gamecocks have tallied 27 homers on the year, the sixth-highest total in program history and one shy of tying the 1994 team for fifth. And yet again, the homers point to good things for the team. South Carolina is 13-2 when sending at least one ball out, while it is 3-6 when going without a triple or homer. Last season, the Gamecocks went 17-6 in games in which they hit a homer while winning just three games when the team did not record at least one triple or one home run.
Starting Things Right Very Important for Gamecocks
The Gamecocks thrive when they reach base to start an inning. As a team, South Carolina gets on base at a .429 clip to begin a frame. In the 14 contests where the team has started two or fewer innings with a base runner reaching, the Gamecocks are 6-8.
Hits Kept Coming vs. Charlotte
South Carolina posted 18 hits in the victory at Charlotte on Feb. 29. That mark is the best since March 5, 2005, when the Gamecocks had 20 in a 15-2 win over South Dakota State.
Hathorn Leads Gamecocks to Walkoff Win vs. Charlotte
Sophomore second baseman Dana Hathorn stepped up with another big hit to lead the Gamecocks over Charlotte on March 14. She poked a single to left to score Kaitlin Westfall from third and give South Carolina it’s second comeback win in four days. Hathorn’s biggest game of the year came in the Feb. 22 win over Winthrop, when she provided two two-run doubles to help lead the team to a 9-1 win in five innings over the Eagles.
Gonzales Coming on Strong
Junior catcher Shelby Gonzales knew there’d be an adjustment period in her first year of NCAA Division I softball. Last season’s NJCAA Division I RBI leader has seemed to make those in recent weeks, as she has posted a .324/.477/.588 line in the 17-game stretch starting the Presbyterian contest on Feb. 25. All three of her homers and 11 of her 13 RBI have come in that time frame, with that .477 on-base percentage standing third on the team during the period. She’s been big with runners in scoring position and two outs, going 5-for-8 and driving in eight runs.
Early Season Schedule Provided Tests
While the first glance at South Carolina’s pre-conference schedule may lead one to think that they should have all been easy games, closer examination says otherwise. Three of the contests came against defending conference champions and NCAA Tournament teams in Illinois-Chicago (Horizon), Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun) and Portland State (Pacific Coast Softball). The Gamecocks went 2-1 in those games, including shutting out the UIC Flames.
Hawkins Providing Thump
Sophomore Chelsea Hawkins has provided a lot of power for the Gamecocks this season, hitting five homers already. She’s two shy of making the top-10 single-season charts at South Carolina for homers. She’s driven in 20 runs, second on the team, and stands third in batting average (.370) and slugging percentage (.605). The only blemish is the 18 strikeouts in 81 at bats.
Big RBI Games Already Surpassing Last Year
The Gamecocks have posted five four-RBI games already in 2012, three more than what the team did in the whole of 2011. Sophomores Chelsea Hawkins (2/11) and Dana Hathorn (2/22) both drove home four in wins over Winthrop, while junior Samie Garcia had a grand slam in the win over Providence (2/17). Senior Evan Childs has two four-RBI games on the season, the last in the comeback triumph over Arkansas to clinch the series on March 11.
Howser a Bullpen Ace in Early Going
Freshman Katelynn Howser has done some of her best work in 2012 out of the bullpen. In 12 relief appearances, she’s picked up three saves, which ranks ninth on South Carolina’s single-season chart, and three of her eight wins. In the 33 innings of relief, she’s posted a 2.76 ERA. In her eight starts, she’s 5-1, tossing five complete games and posting a 2.86 ERA in 41.2 innings.
South Carolina Defense Downfall in Early Losses
A common strand ran through the first three Gamecock losses: defensive errors and unearned runs. South Carolina committed seven errors combined and allowed nine unearned runs. Only the Tennessee State game would have stay tied without those runs; the rest would all favor the Gamecocks. Errors also haunted the Gamecocks in the first game against Mississippi State, as four unearned runs crossed in the 10-6 setback on March 13.
Last season, South Carolina went 21-19 when making one or no errors. That record fell to 5-7 in games with two errors. When the Gamecocks made three or more errors, they went 0-4. This season, the Gamecocks are 15-4 when making one or less errors but 4-5 when committing two or more.
Broyles Goes the Distance and More
Redshirt junior Audrey Broyles passed a personal milestone in her first start of 2012, tossing 117 pitches in the complete-game victory over Western Kentucky. That marked the first time since 2010 that Broyles had thrown that many pitches, when she threw 120 in the loss at Florida Atlantic. Broyles felt so strong that she tossed another 1.1 innings against Winthrop immediately following.
The Pembroke Pines, Fla., product leads the Gamecocks with a 2.39 ERA, tossing 41 innings this season. She made her first relief appearance of the year on March 11 and held Arkansas scoreless for the final 3.2 innings in the 8-7 comeback win. And when things get tough, she gets better, as the chart in the PDF version of the notes shows.
Horseshoes, Hand Grenades, Etc.
In last year’s 26-30 season, South Carolina went 7-11 in one-run games and 1-3 in extra-inning affairs. Turning half of those one-run losses into wins would move the Gamecocks a long way to their goal of NCAA Tournament eligibility. The Gamecocks stand at 1-1 in extra-inning games this season, getting a 5-4 victory in eight over Western Kentucky, and hold a 5-3 mark in one-run games.
South Carolina Offense Posts Back-to-Back 10+ Run Games
South Carolina rebounded from a two-hit effort in the first game against Charleston Southern to post consecutive 10+ run games. The Gamecocks rebounded with a 11-2 win in five innings over the Buccaneers on the nightcap of Feb. 28 before posting a 13-7 win at Charlotte on Feb. 29. The last time South Carolina scored 10+ in consecutive games was on April 3, 2005 when the Gamecocks run-ruled Kentucky in both halves of a doubleheader in Lexington by scores of 12-2 and 10-1.
On five occasions, the Gamecocks have posted double-digit runs, matching the team’s best in the SEC era, hit by last year’s squad and the 1997 league champions. The most recent team with more than five is the 1996 group, which posted 10 10+ run outings.
White Getting the Chance to Start and Finish
Senior pitcher Kierstyn White tossed her first career shutout on the trip to Miami. She blanked defending Horizon League champs Illinois-Chicago, coming within two outs of a no-hitter. The two-hit shutout stands out even more due to White’s efficiency, as she needed just 74 pitches in the seven-inning affair.
In the past, White closed out other pitcher’s starts, finishing 36 games over her first two years, Now, she has a chance to start and finish them, posting five complete games in 11 starts in `12.
Seven Games of HR Equals 2009 Season Total
South Carolina combined to hit 13 homers in the seven-game stretch from Feb. 28-March 4. That total matches what the 2009 team did in 45 games that season and surpassed the outputs of both 2008 and 2010. Twenty-eight games into 2012, South Carolina has hit 27 homers, two more than in the whole of 2011. The program record is 38 long balls in a season, set in 2003.
Gamecocks Among Most Experienced Teams in NCAA Division I
South Carolina has 10 seniors listed on the roster for 2012, which is believed to be the most in NCAA Division I this year. Seven position starters return from last year, losing starters at catcher and designated player. When removing two players expected to sit out this year due to injury along with the starts by last year’s seniors, the Gamecocks bring back 92.3 percent of their outfield starts and 84.8 percent of infield starts from third to first.
A Much Better Showing in 2011
South Carolina posted one of the best turnarounds in the country last year, the first under Beverly Smith. The 12 1/2 game improvement tied for 12th in NCAA Division I, and the mark was the eighth best for a team that finished 2010 under .500.
Scouting the Florida Gators
Florida, the fourth-ranked team in both major polls this season with a 23-2 record, has been stellar both at the plate and in the circle. As a team, the Gators hold a .333/.444/.550 offensive line while posting 31 homers and 39 stolen bases. The pitching has been as good with a 0.81 ERA in 155.2 innings, with the team striking out 164 and walking 47. Foes hit .175 against the Gators and have one homer on the year.
Leading the Gator lineup is senior outfielder Michelle Moultrie. She gets on base at a .549 clip, hits .446 while adding four triples and six homers to lead the team in slugging. She also has 16 stolen bases in 18 tries. Junior Kelsey Horton tops the team with nine homers and 29 RBI. Lauren Haeger, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, leads the team with 21 walks while adding six doubles and four homers when hitting. Florida is missing Brittany Schutte, who is out after taking a throw to the jaw on March 2.
Hannah Rogers tops Florida in the circle, tossing 82.1 innings and posting a 0.60 ERA. Opponents hit .166 against the sophomore, while she’s fanned 86 and walked just 14 on the year. Haeger holds a 1.41 ERA in 49.2 innings, striking out 57 and walking 26 on the year. And freshman Alyssa Bache has tossed 23.2 innings with a 0.30 ERA. She’s struck out 21 and walked seven.
Series History Versus the Gators
Florida holds a 33-19 advantage in the series and has won 23 straight dating back to an SEC Tournament game in 2003. In Gainesville, the Gators are 14-8 against the Gamecocks, taking the last 11 games at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, including three-game sweeps in 2004, 2006 and 2010.
The Last Series vs. Florida – April 29-May 1, 2011
The No. 5/7 Florida Gators gained a series sweep at Beckham Field during senior weekend for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
South Carolina fought but dropped a 5-0 decision to Florida on Friday night. The Gators struck in the second when Cheyenne Coyle hit the 3-2 pitch out to center for a two-run homer, scoring Tiffany DeFelice after she started the frame with a single. Florida struck again in the fifth, as Michelle Moultrie scored when Kelsey Bruder’s single got past the Gamecock centerfielder. Bruder went to third on the play and made it 4-0 when she touched home on Megan Bush’s sacrifice fly. The Gators added the final run in the seventh on Bush’s rope toward the left-field corner, scoring Bruder after her double.
South Carolina held a lead through four innings, but Florida finished with a flurry to take a 6-1 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday afternoon. The Gamecocks posted their run in the first when Laura Mendes drove a ball into the right-field gap, scoring Samie Garcia after she started the frame with a hit. Florida tied it in the fifth when Coyle got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home Brittany Schutte. The Gators took the lead in the sixth on Bush’s second sacrifice fly of the series. Schutte pushed the lead to four with her three-run homer to left-center.
In a game where South Carolina collected more hits than Florida, the Gators emerged with the 6-1 victory on Sunday afternoon. The Gamecocks got two-hit days from Lauren Lackey and Mendes, with Mendes collecting her ninth double of the year. Garcia added a double as well. Overall, South Carolina posted eight hits, one more than Florida. Schutte had two hits, including one of the Gators’ three homers. That homer, a two-run shot, came in the first with two outs. Bruder also scored on the blast, reaching on a one-out walk. The advantage doubled to 4-0 in the third thanks to a solo homer by Michelle Moultrie and Bruder’s run that came on a two-error play by the Gamecocks with two down.
South Carolina vs. Ranked Opponents
In history against foes ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, South Carolina has an 91-198-1 (.316) mark. When facing SEC teams that are ranked, SC is 38-141 (.212). On April 24, 2011, the Gamecocks snapped a 34-game losing streak against ranked teams, defeating No. 20 Kentucky in the final game of the series.
Looking for Better Showing on TV in 2012
South Carolina makes its 2012 debut on the small screen on Saturday at No. 4 Florida, as Sun Sports will televise the game. Last season, the Gamecocks went 2-5 on television, which includes two setbacks to the Gators on TV, one on FOX Sports Florida as part of Florida’s local broadcast package.
