April 20, 2012
by Ryan Pedersen and Koby Padgett
South Carolina Athletic Media Relations
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (23-24, 3-16) dropped the opening game of the three-game series against No. 8/7 Tennessee (38-9, 17-6) by a score of 8-0 in five innings in front of a season-best crowd of 751 at Beckham Field.
Senior leftfielder Kaitlin Westfall logged two of the Gamecocks’ three hits on the night, including her 16th double of the season, tying her for fifth on South Carolina’s single-season doubles list. Junior shortstop Samie Garcia also added a hit for Carolina. Tennessee left fielder Melissa Davin went 3-for-3 with two home runs and a team-best four RBI.
In the first, the Lady Vols’ Kat Dotson drew one-out walk, and after a line out, Lauren Gibson singled to left to put runners on the corners. Gibson successfully stole second on the next pitch, allowing Dotson to steal home as the throw went down to second and handing Tennessee a 1-0 lead. Davin made it 2-0 in the second, knocking the 2-0 pitch over the wall in left center for a solo home run.
Gamecock redshirt junior Audrey Broyles settled in to retire six-straight Tennessee batters and give the Gamecocks a chance to cut into the lead. Westfall gave the Gamecocks a leadoff runner in the fourth with a double into the left-center gap, but she would not move up from there, as Tennessee starter Ellen Renfroe got a strikeout and two ground balls to end the inning.
Davin started the fifth with her second solo home run to stretch the Tennessee lead to three. Two batters later, Tory Lewis tripled into right center, scoring Ashley Andrews. After Raven Chavanne drew a walk against Gamecock reliever Kierstyn White, the Lady Vols completed another double steal to make it 5-0. A pair of intentional walks loaded the bases, and Melissa Brown drew a third to force in a run. Davin followed with a single through the middle, giving Tennessee an 8-0 lead.
The Gamecocks’ Evan Childs drew a leadoff walk to begin the fifth, but the team’s second double-play ball squelched the threat. A lineout ended the contest.
Renfroe (24-3) tossed a shutout, allowing only three hits and walking two. She struck out three. Broyles (7-8) took the loss, throwing four-plus innings and allowing five earned runs on four hits and two walks, fanning two.
The Gamecocks and Lady Vols battle in game two of the series tomorrow, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. EDT.
