CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- As steady as the trainsrolling beyond the outfield fences, Megan Matthews pitched South Carolina to another victory in the Southeastern Conference softball tournament.
Arkansas took its swings Saturday night, pushing Matthews to nine innings just as Alabama had done the previous evening. And once more, the league's most durable pitcher refused to bend, delivering a 1-0 victory and sending USC into today's championship game.
Samantha Jennings' two-out bloop single off the glove of Arkansas shortstop Cortney Mitchell in the top of the ninth inning brought home pinch-runner Nancy Crane with the game's only run.
So today, in the shadows of this city's rustic railyards, No. 22 USC (40-17-1) will seek a repeat title against the winner of LSU and eighth-seeded Auburn.
And the resilient Matthews (23-11), who carries a string of eight straight complete games in tournament play, is positioned to earn a second MVP award.
"I really think I get stronger in the later innings," said Matthews, who has allowed one run in 25 innings over the past three days. "And I think I really came awake in the eighth inning tonight. I had been struggling with my curve and my riser, but my control felt a lot sharper late in the game."
Arkansas (36-30), fighting to keep its NCAA hopes afloat, managed seven hits and two walks. But Matthews side-stepped every jam, matching the tourney single-game record with 10 strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Arkansas freshman Heather Schlichtman (26-13) struck out four batters and coaxed 12 ground-ball outs. The 6-foot-3 right-hander also was the beneficiary of a slick-fielding defense.
Even USC coach Joyce Compton cracked a smile from the third-base box after the Arkansas middle-infield tandem of Mitchell and Erin Stokey made consecutive lunging grabs on line drives in the top of the eighth.
"I thought both of those balls would get through," Compton said. "With Arkansas making those types of plays, you wonder if it's just not meant to be."
But USC broke through in the ninth. Debralee Troesh singled up the middle, giving way to Crane, who reached second on Adrianna Baggetta's bunt.
After a ground out and an intentional walk, Schlichtman jammed Jennings with a 1-and-2 pitch. The sight of the ball fluttering toward shallow left field was enough to leave Compton holding her breath.
"When Sammy hits that one, I'm wondering if Cortney Mitchell could make another great catch," Compton said. "Turns out, this time she couldn't."
