April 30, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Sara Ghezzi hit her seventh home run of the season, but the 19th-ranked Auburn softball team dropped a 7-1 decision to South Carolina in the three-game series finale Sunday at Beckham Field.
Ghezzi homered in the fourth on a 3-2 pitch from South Carolina reliever Christie Hamilton. The shot tied her with Ashley Griffin, who hit her seventh of the year Saturday, for the team lead. Ghezzi also has 28 runs batted in, good for second on the club.
South Carolina (28-27 overall, 8-18 Southeastern Conference), however, scored seven unanswered runs after Ghezzi's solo shot in the fourth. The Gamecocks took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth.
South Carolina put five runs on the board in the fifth, courtesy of two home runs. McKenna Hughes opened the inning's scoring with a two-run home run, her seventh of the year. Five batters later, Jacqueline Wetherbee hit a three-run home run to make it 7-1.
Kristina McCain went 3 for 4 to pace the Tigers (33-17, 14-13).
Holly Currie started for the Tigers and worked 3 2/3 innings. She allowed six hits and two runs and dropped to 17-10 this season.
Beth DiPietro and Brittany Day worked in relief of Currie, going a combined 2 1/3 innings. They allowed five hits and five runs while striking out two and walking one.
Christie Hamilton took the victory for South Carolina, improving to 15-14 this season. She worked 4 1/3 innings, striking out seven while walking two.
Auburn next plays Ole Miss Saturday and Sunday in a three-game series that will conclude the Tigers' SEC regular season schedule. The clubs open Saturday with a doubleheader that begins at 10 a.m. CT. Auburn and Ole Miss will conclude the series with a solo contest Sunday that begins at 1 p.m.
All three games will be available on the Internet at www.auburntigers.com and by tuning into WZMG-AM (910).
TIGER NOTES: Auburn wore its blue uniforms and is now 17-8 in them this season ... Kristina McCain's three-hit effort was her 17th multiple-hit game of the season.