Feb. 22, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina continued on its roll in softball, taking a 5-1 win over Troy in the final day of the Gamecock Invitational at Beckham Field to stretch the team’s winning streak to nine games.
The Gamecocks (11-1) got all the runs they would need in the first, as freshman Lauren Lackey scored on a passed ball and senior Ashton Payne crossed the plate on sophomore P.J. Fulmer’s double. Lackey reached after being hit by a pitch and moved to third on Payne’s single. Fulmer later drove the 2-2 pitch to the left field wall after a dropped foul ball kept her alive.
South Carolina added to its lead in the fifth when sophomore Jill Semento doubled down the left field line to plate junior Adele Voigt. She reached on an error and moved into scoring position on Lackey’s single. Semento stepped up with two outs and delivered the RBI double. The Garnet and Black tacked on two more in the sixth on junior Lindsay Walker’s double and Payne’s sacrifice fly. Walker drove in Stubblefield, who led off the inning with a single, while Payne plated pinch runner Kaitlin Westfall.
Troy (9-5) tried to mount a comeback bid in the seventh, getting back-to-back singles to start the frame. Jackie Di Siervi stepped up and lined out to the third baseman Semento, who threw behind the lead runner at second to get the double play. That proved to be huge, as the next batter, Heidi Johnson, got a triple to score Kaitlin Kenney from first. But the Gamecocks ended the bid, as Semento scooped up Rocky Paige’s grounder and threw to first in time to close out the game.
South Carolina starter Audrey Broyles (5-1) got the win, scattering five hits over four innings of work while fanning four. Freshman Kierstyn White got her second save of the weekend, allowing one earned run on five hits. She struck out and walked one. Ashlyn Williams (7-4) got the loss, giving up five runs, two earned, on nine hits and a walk. She sat down seven.
The Gamecocks return to action on Friday in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. South Carolina plays Houston and Illinois State starting at 11 a.m. at South Commons Stadium.
