Feb. 7, 2004
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – South Carolina softball started the 2004 season on the right foot as junior pitcher Aleca Johnson (1-0) pitched a no-hitter to give the Gamecocks (1-0) an 8-0 five-inning victory over the Charlotte 49ers (0-1). Sophomore catcher Ashley Smith hit two home runs to drive in five Carolina runs while designated player Tia Rogers hit a three-run shot to put USC up 8-0. Kristen Bowen pitched four innings for the 49ers and gave up nine hits as she fell to 0-1.
In her ninth career start, Johnson threw a perfect game until a two-out error in the fifth ended the campaign. Johnson still recorded the no-hitter and it was her first solo, second in her career. Her last no-hitter was a combined effort with Stacey Johnson back in 2002. This marks the 40th no-hitter for the Gamecock program. The Seneca, S.C. native recorded six strikeouts and pitched her first complete game of the season.
Smith put USC on the board with her sixth career home run, a two-run blast to left field in the first inning. She added three more runs in the third for a career high five RBI’s and a 5-0 lead for the Gamecocks. Rogers hit a three-run homer to put USC up 8-0, marking her sixth career long ball.
Smith became the eighth player in Carolina history to hit two home runs in a game. With the two blasts, Smith moved up to 11th among Carolina’s all-time leaders in home runs with seven.
Team 123 45 RHE
USC 203 03 891
CHA 000 00 000
WP: A. Johnson (1-0)
LP: K. Bowen (0-1)
