March 27, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Gamecocks fell to 17-6 and 6-3 in the SEC after being shutout by Kristin Keyes (12-4) and the Auburn Tigers (24-4) 1-0 in game one of a Saturday doubleheader. Stacey Johnson took the loss for USC as she fell to 9-2 on the season. Johnson gave up one run on two hits and struck out six.
The Gamecocks only had two base runners as USC suffered its first no-hit loss since April 1, 2003 against Tennessee. Keyes struck out 10 Gamecock batters and posted her third no-hitter of the season.
In the third inning, Auburn’s Lolani Alvarez drew a one out walk, representing the Tigers’ first base runner of the game. Alvarez stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. The Tiger’s put their one and only run on the board when Alvarez came home on a passed ball by the Gamecocks’ Tia Rogers.
The Gamecocks got their first base runner of the game in the fourth inning when Nancy Crane reached on an error. Crane advanced to second on a sacrifice but Keyes retired USC’s next three batters to strand the centerfielder and end the inning.
Margaret Person represented USC’s second base runner as she drew a one-out walk in the sixth inning to try and start a Gamecock rally. The Gamecocks fell short once again as they lined out and struck out to end the inning.
In the seventh, USC went down in order including two strikeouts to end the game as the Tigers claimed their first win in Columbia ever and their first win against a ranked team this season.
