April 1, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Serena Smith got a two-run double in the sixth to give Charlotte a 2-0 win over South Carolina on Wednesday afternoon at 49ers Softball Field.
The 49ers (19-8) struck in the sixth when Serena Smith drove in two with a one-out double. Sarah Malene drew a one-out walk and moved to third on Lorena Vela’s sacrifice attempt. Vela reached when the ball was thrown away from the covering Kandyce Redondo. Vela stole second without a throw before Smith’s double.
The Gamecocks (14-16) stranded runners in scoring position twice in the game. In the third, freshman Lauren Lackey blooped a leadoff double behind third base. She moved to second on Kandyce Redondo’s bunt, but Charlotte starter Emily Jeffery (14-4) got out of the frame with a popup and a fly ball. The fifth inning was similar, with Laura Mendes getting a one-out double before being stranded. Jeffery struck out the Gamecock pinch hitter and got a line out to center to escape the jam.
South Carolina had one more chance in the seventh when sophomore Jill Semento drove a one-out double to left center. But she also was stranded in scoring position, as Jeffery got a pair of lazy fly balls to end the contest.
Jeffery scattered four hits with five strikeouts in the complete-game shutout. Gamecock reliever Krystle Robinson (1-6) picked up the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks. She fanned one.
The Gamecocks had three doubles in their four hits, including extra-base hits from Lackey, Mendes and sophomore Jill Semento.
South Carolina hosts Winthrop on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Beckham Field.
