South Commmons Stadium and Complex
Columbus, Georgia
February 23-25, 2001
Day Two Notes
Pac 10-SEC Showdowns in Semifinals: Two Pac-10 teams and two Southeastern Conference teams remain in contention for the 2001 NFCA Leadoff Classic championship. Alabama and South Carolina represent the SEC, while California and Stanford are representing the Pac 10.
Gamecocks Knock Off National Champs: South Carolina defeated defending national champion Oklahoma 4-0 in pool play Saturday, marking the second consecutive tournament appearance in which the Gamecocks defeated the previous year's national champion. At the 1999 Leadoff Classic, South Carolina defeated 1998 national champion Fresno State 1-0.
Stanford Goes Yard in Record Fashion: With one day left in the tournament, Stanford has already broken the team record for most home runs at the Leadoff Classic. The Cardinal have belted nine home runs in four games, including a four-homer performance in its opener against Illinois-Chicago. Sarah Beeson, who hit two home runs Saturday against Seton Hall, has four for the tournament and is one round-tripper away from tying the tournament individual mark. Jenny Topping of Washington set the individual record with five last year to help the Huskies set the previous team record of eight.
Flirting With No-No's: Arizona StateÃs Erica Beach, Michigan's Marissa Young and DePaul's Sarah Martz all flirted with no-hitters Saturday. Beach took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Michigan State before giving up a leadoff single and finishing with a two-hiiter. Martz held Missouri hitless until allowing a hit in the fifth and settled for a one-hitter. Young lost her no-hit bid against Alabama in the sixth inning, then suffered a 1-0 loss in eight innings. Alabama scored the lone run when the international tie-breaker runner was sacrificed to third and came home on a wild pitch.
Double-Dinger Saturday:Three players had two-home run games Saturday: Stanford's Sarah Beeson hit a two-run homer and a three-run homer in the CardinalÃs 14-8 victory over Seton Hall; Fresno State's Lindsay Fossatti belted a pair of two run homers to lead the Bulldogs to a 7-2 victory over Georgia; Kenya Peters of Southern Mississippi hit a solo shot and three-run homer in the Lady Eagles' 6-0 win over New Mexico.
Grand Slam Saturday: The first two grand slam home runs of this yearÃs Leadoff Classic took place Saturday. Trina Peel's grand slam sparked a seven-run six inning to lead LSU to an 8-0 win over Illinois-Chicago during pool play. Illinois-Chicago tallied a grand slam of its own as Jacquelyne Vaca's slam in the fourth inning provided all of the Flames' runs in their 4-1 victory over Seton Hall in the first round of the Bronze Bracket.
75 Percent Chance of a First-Time Champion: Three of the four Gold Bracket semifinalists are seeking their first Leadoff Classic championship. Alabama, California and Stanford are going after their first title, while 1997 Leadoff Classic champion South Carolina hopes to join Washington as the tournament's only two-time champions.
Day Two Stars
Alyssa Mauro, Georgia: Had four RBI against Long Island, hitting two-run singles in the first and second innings.
Sarah Beeson, Stanford: Went 3-for-3 with two home runs and six runs batted in against Seton Hall.
Megan Matthews, South Carolina: Tossed a five-hit shutout and struck out 15 in the Gamecocksà 4-0 win over Oklahoma.
Lisa Carey, Oklahoma: Went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and four runs batted in against Nebraska. Her RBI-double in the top of the eighth was the difference in the Sooners' 6-5 win.
Jocelyn Forest, California: Against LSU, tossed a one-hit shutout, struck out 15 and retired the last 15 batters she faced.
Felicia Gonzalez, Southern Mississippi: Recorded 13 strikeouts and pitched a two-hitter against New Mexico in the first round of the Silver Bracket.
Joyce McMillin, South Carolina: Drove in all three runs with a home run and single in the Gamecocksà 3-2 win over defending Leadoff Classic champion Washington in the first round of the Gold Bracket.
Mary Carroll Smith, Seton Hall: Went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and five runs batted in against Stanford.
