April 28, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina softball closed out the regular season with a win as they defeated Coastal Carolina 2-1 to sweep the doubleheader. McKenna Hughes hit a two-run home in the fifth inning to tie and lift USC past the Chanticleers 2-1. With the win, USC improved to 27-20 overall. Melanie Henkes recorded the win and is now above .500 with a 8-7 record. Coastal Carolina fell to 22-26 and pitcher Brittany Nelson fell to 10-12.
In the first, Henkes walked the first three batters to load the bases but got out of the inning unscathed with a strikeout, a fielder’s choice ground out and a fly out.
The Chanticleers did jump on the board in the second inning as Danyelle Gerdts led off with a solo home run to centerfield, her second of the year, and took a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth, Meghan Cornett got things started for USC as she hit a two-out triple just inside the right field line. The triple was Cornett’s first of the year and the fourth of her career. Hughes then stepped to the plate and hit her fifth career home run, a shot to left centerfield, and put the Gamecocks in the lead 2-1.
In the seventh, Henkes left the game and was replaced by Johnson. The sophomore pitcher threw six innings and gave up one run on three hits. Johnson then faced four batters in the inning to earn her third save of the season.
Next for the Gamecocks is the SEC Tournament May 13-16 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. USC is the No. 8 seed and their No. 1 seed opponent will be announced Sunday, May 2.
