WOMEN’S COLLEGE GOLF

Gamecocks lead after first round of UCF Challenge

At Sorrento, Fla., South Carolina put together its best round of the season on Sunday as it fired a first-round 4-under 284 at RedTail Golf Club to take the lead at the UCF Challenge.

The Gamecocks had three golfers shoot under par on their way to building a three-shot lead over ninth-ranked North Carolina, UCF and Augusta State.

USC RESULTS: 3. Justine Dreher 68 (-4); T13. Sarah Schmelzel 71; (-1); T13. Samantha Swinehart 71 (-1); T35. Suzie Lee 74 (+2); T49. Chelsey Couch 75 (+3); *T23. Mary Fran Hillow 72 (E); (*as individual)

TEAMS: 1. USC 284 (-4); T2. North Carolina 287 (-1); T2. UCF 287 (-1); T2. Augusta State 287 (-1); 5. Tulane 288 (E); 6. East Carolina 289 (+1); 7. Kennesaw State 292 (+4); T8. Miami 293 (+5); T8. Texas State 293 (+5); T10. Mississippi 296 (+8); T10. Virginia 296 (+8); 12. South Florida 297 (+9); T13. Louisville 299 (+11); T13. College of Charleston 299 (+11); 15. Missouri 300 (+12); 16. Coastal Carolina 302 (+14); 17. Georgia State 304 (+16); 18. Oregon State 305 (+17)

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

Gamecocks rock Spartans

At Deland, Fla., South Carolina (4-0) completed an opening-weekend sweep with a 12-5 victory over Michigan State (1-3) to close the Stetson Lead-Off Classic. Ashlyn Masters, Chelsea Hawkins and Kristen Struett each had two runs and two hits, with Hawkins contributing a homer. Shelby Gonzales Codee Yeske Samie Garcia Audrey Broyles (2-0) pitched 52/3 innings and gave up five runs, two earned, on four hits while striking out four.

MEN’S COLLEGE TENNIS

USC rallies past N.C. State

No. 49 South Carolina battled back all afternoon for a 4-3 victory over No. 34 N.C. State at Carolina Tennis Center. The Gamecocks (7-3) dropped the doubles point, but got a pair of comeback three-set victories from Andrew Adams and Thiago Pinheiro to earn their first win over a team ranked higher than them.

From Staff and Wire Reports