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Softball team opens up season 2-2 in Florida Lady Gamecocks get two wins from pitcher Megan Matthews BY STEVE 'SHULER THE GAMECOCK The South Carolina softball team (2-2) started the 2002 season this weekend at the Seminole Challenge in Florida at Florida State University. The Lady Gamecocks entered the tourna ment ranked No. 22 in the nation. use 3, Louisville 2 In their season opener on Friday, the Lady Gamecocks took an early 2-0 lead in the second in ning with a two-run single by freshman Aleca Johnson that drove in Kim Evans and Jodi Fittro. In the fourth inning, the Lady Cardinals narrowed the lead to one when Lisa Estes drove in Keola Calderon, who reached on an error. In the fifth inning, Louisville tied the game on an RBI single by Shannon Nord. The game was tied until the bottom of the seventh when Carolina shortstop Amber Curtis led off with a game-win ning home run. Lady Gamecock pitcher Megan Matthews got the win, recording five strikeouts and allowing only one earned run. Carolina im proved its record in road season openers to 8-2. Fla. Atlantic 1, USC 0 Jn the first of two games on Saturday, the Lady Gamecocks faced Florida Atlantic’s greatest weapon in senior pitcher Nicole Meyers. Meyers was spectacular, giving up only four hits and strik ing out 11 en route to her fifth win of the season. The lone run of the game came in the fourth inning when FAU center fielder Heather Wright scored on a sacrifice fly by Callie Piper. The Lady Gamecocks stranded six runners in seven innings, in cluding one left on third base at the end of the game. Sophomore pitcher Stacey Johnson took the loss for Carolina despite a strong perfomance which included 11 strikeouts. use 4, Florida St. 0 The second game of Saturday’s doubleheader featured two Top 25 teams in No. 15 Florida State and No. 22 USC. Matthews took the mound again and deliv ered in a big way, scattering six hits, walking none, and striking out seven for her second consecu tive victory. Carolina first scored in the sec ond inning as Debralee Troesh doubled in Adrianna Baggetta. Baggetta then singled in Meghan Cornett in the fourth. The Lady Gamecocks scored two insurance runs in the seventh inning as Nancy Crane scored off a single by Fittro, and Melissa Sandel crossed home on a sacrifice fly by Aleca Johnson. FSU stranded ten runners in the ballgame. Washington 8, USC 1 Sunday, Carolina faced ninth ranked Washington and star pitch er Tia Bollinger, who brought a 4 D record to the game. Washington got off to a fast start, scoring all eight of their runs in the first three innings. The Lady Huskies scored three in the first, as Becky Simpson reached on an error and Amanda Oleson reached on a fielder’s choice. The Lady Huskies scored two in the second and three in the third to advance their lead to 8-0. Stacey Johnson was then relieved by Aleca Johnson, who held Washington scoreless from that point on. However, the eight run margin was more than enough for Bollinger, who struck out seven Carolina batters. The lone Carolina run came in the fifth inning, when Fittro sin gled in pinch runner Evans. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com Lady Gamecocks hold off late run by UK 0 USC 74 Kentucky 73 BY CHRIS FOY THE CAMECOCK H . . The USC women’s basketball team (20-3,8-2 SEC) accomplished its first 20-win season in nearly a decade Sunday, when it squeaked by the Kentucky Lady Wildcats 74 73. The Lady Gamecocks had four players pick up double-digit scores, while Kentucky dropped to 1-10 in conference play. Last month, the two teams played a game that wasn’t nearly as close, as USC coasted to a 78-49 victory. Jocelyn Penn continued to be the dominant force for the Lady Gamecocks, scoring 21 points. Shaunzinski Gortman stepped up as well, bringing in a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Christina Ciocan poured in 13, while Tatyana Troina scored 10. USC was down 55-50 with a lit tle over 10 minutes remaining in the game. Ciocan led a 14-6 run to put Carolina back on top, 64-61, near the five-minute mark. The Lady I Wildcats wouldn’t stay down, how ever, and after SeSe Helm hit two free throws, Kentucky was up 67-66. But with two baskets by Ciocan and Penn, the Lady Gamecocks picked up a lead they would not relinquish. The Lady Wildcats did give USC a scare though, as Sara Potts hit a 3-pointer--with 4.2 seconds re maining to narrow the Lady Gamecocks’ lead to one. After Gortman was fouled, she missed a free throw that gave Kentucky the ball back with 3.8 seconds re maining. But Kentucky was un able to come through, as it stalled before getting the back downcourt. USC scored 18 of its points off 13 Kentucky turnovers. The Lady Wildcats did manage to shoot bet ter than the Lady Gamecocks, as shooting 55 percent to USC’s 49. Helm led the way for the Lady Wildcats with 24 points. Potts fin ished it with a career-high 21 points. Kentucky has now lost its ninth straight game. The Lady Gamecocks will re turn home Thursday night to face Alabama. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotma il. com Christina Ciocan scored 13 points in the Lady Gamecoc ks’ 74-73 win over Kentucky on Sunday. With the win, USC earned its first 20 win season in nearly a decade. The team also moved 20-3 overall, and to 8-2 in SEC play. PHOTO BY ROBERT GRUEN Sports Challenge Games Wednesday Wisconsin at Indiana No. 6 Alabama at USC St. John’s at No. 11 Miami Thursday N.C. State at No. 1 Duke Saturday No. 14 Illinois at Seton Hall USC at Vanderbilt Sunday No. 1 Duke at No. 3 Maryland No. 17 Syracuse at Notre Dame Want to be reader of the week? Turn in your picks to gamecocksports@hotmaii.com. i HART’S WAR ■-• tou are mvixea 10 a special screening 01 n>ui i o mui -1 Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 Time: 8:00 p.m. Location: Russell House University Union Theater _ iitf U.S. AIR FORCE Students may pick up passes on the day of the show at the Russell House Information Center. V 4 Student Government Debate Get the answers from the candidates: President Vice President Treasurer February 12th 5:00pm Ballroom A imment tions se du