May 4, 2012
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
UNIVERSITY, Miss. – South Carolina (23-30, 3-23 SEC) had yet another heartbreaking loss, as Ole Miss (20-32, 5-21 SEC) used a sixth-inning homer from Londen Ladner to take a 1-0 win on Friday night at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
Ladner came up with one down and deposited the first pitch of the at bat over the wall in left, giving the Rebels the only run of the game. The homer spoiled a great outing from Gamecock redshirt junior Audrey Broyles (7-11), who took the loss while giving up three hits and two walks in six innings. Broyles struck out three.
South Carolina managed three hits against Ole Miss pitching, including just two off Rebel starter Kendall Bruning. She gave up three walks and two hits in 5.1 innings, fanning one.
The Gamecocks’ best chance against Bruning came in the second, loading the bases with two outs in the frame. Sophomore Dana Hathorn was hit by a pitch with one down, while fellow sophomore Chelsea Hawkins drew a walk to put on two. Freshman Kristen Struett hit a hot shot to first that Ladner thought she caught in the air, as she tagged first to get what she thought was the double play. But the home plate umpire ruled the ball hit the dirt, giving the Gamecocks runners at the corners. Senior Molly Brossart drew the first of her two walks to load the bases, but Bruning got a grounder right back to her to end the threat.
The Rebels also benefited from two double plays, including the game-ending play. Struett started the inning with a single, and Brossart sacrificed junior pinch runner Hannah Milks to second. Freshman pinch hitter Lacey Rother got hit by a pitch to put two runners on for junior Samie Garcia. With a 3-1 count, Garcia hit one on the ground to the Rebel second baseman Corrine Doornberg, who gloved the ball and tagged the Gamecock pinch runner before throwing to first to double up Garcia and end the game.
Erinn Jayjohn (5-13) picked up the win in relief, giving up one hit and one walk in 1.2 innings. Struett, Garcia and senior Lauren Lackey collected the three hits for South Carolina, while Dallas Hardin and Marina Parra had the other two Rebel hits.
Game two of the series starts at 2 p.m. CDT Saturday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
