April 9, 2003

Athens, Ga. – Nancy Crane provided South Carolina’s only offense as the 15th-ranked Gamecocks lost game one of the doubleheader to No. 10 Georgia 4-0. The Gamecocks fell to 28-11 and 12-6 in the SEC while Georgia improved to 40-7 and 15-4 in the SEC. Crane recorded both hits for Carolina as she went 2-for-2 at the plate. Stacey Johnson (13-6) struck out four batters to record her 100th strikeout for the season, but gave up four runs on five hits in six innings pitched, to record the loss.

In addition to Crane’s two hits, Michelle Green (29-4) allowed Carolina only one more baserunner as centerfielder Jodi Fittro walked to lead off the top of the fourth. Green struckout eight Gamecock batters.

Going into the bottom of the fourth inning, the two teams were combined for three hits. That would change when Green hit a one-out single to get things started for the Bulldogs. Michelle Tyree came in to pinch run for Green and eventually gave Georgia its first run of the game. Tyree stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Shannon McKeon. Tyree came home on a wild pitch from Johnson and put UGA on the board 1-0. Johnson’s wild pitch also walked Courtney Knight who had a full count, giving UGA its fifth base runner of the game. With two outs, Ashley Godfrey then followed with a two-run home run, her sixth of the season, to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.

UGA added another run in the fifth when Nicole Barber reached base on a fielder’s choice and scored from second base on a double by Kim Wendland. The Bulldogs held Carolina hitless in the final two innings as Green retired the last six outs in order.

For Georgia, Godfrey led the way as she went 2-for-3, scored one run and drove in two. Barber, who leads the nation in stolen bases, was 2-for-2 in stolen bases.