No. 17 South Carolina Splits Second Day of Gamecock Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 17th ranked South Carolina softball team split its second day of the Gamecock Invitational Saturday (Feb. 24), as Carolina fell to South Alabama 5-2, before defeating UMass 5-0. South Carolina is now 12-2 on the season.

GAME 1

The Gamecocks were unable to string together runs, as the Jaguars scored two runs in the second and three in the sixth.

Carolina got on the board in the third when Bre Warren brought home Emma Sellers on a sacrifice bunt.

In the fourth, South Carolina tied the score when Karley Shelton led off with a double. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to third, Riley Blampied brought her home on a single to left.

Alana Vawter suffered her first loss of the season, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits in five innings of work. Sage Mardjetko came on for the final inning and allowed one run on three hits.

GAME 2

The Gamecocks earned its second shutout of the Minutewomen on the weekend, as Jori Heard threw a complete game, allowing two hits and striking out six.

Carolina opened the scoring in the second when Shelton came home on a groundout by Jen Cummings.

They would add to the lead in the fifth on three consecutive hits. Denver Bryant led off with a double to left center. Brooke Blankenship reached on a bunt single, and Blampied brought them both home on a single up the middle.

Shelton got things again in the seventh when she was hit by a pitch. Bryant connected on her second double of the day to put runners in scoring position. Blankenship followed with a single to right, scoring Shelton. Carolina capped of their night when Blampied brought home Bryant on a sacrifice fly to center.

South Carolina wraps up the Gamecock Invitational Sunday when they take on Charlotte at 3 p.m.

For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.