Drotar Ties School Record For RBI In Game As Gamecocks Beat Campbell

COLUMBIA, S.C. —- South Carolina softball used a four-home run performance with 15 hits to propel itself to a 16-7 win in five innings over Campbell on Saturday night at Carolina Stadium at Beckham Field. Cayla Drotar tied the school record for RBI in a game with eight as she blasted two home runs, including a grand slam, to help lift the Gamecocks to victory. 
 
The Gamecocks (6-2) improved to 23-0 all-time in the Gamecock Invitational as the squad recorded at least 15 hits in a game for the first time since 2016. 
 
Carolina sent 13 batters to the plate in the third on its way to a nine-run inning and never looked back as it recorded its second victory via run-rule in the tournament. 
 
South Carolina started the scoring effort in the first as Drotar doubled to score a run before Kennedy Clark’s double the next at bat to score Drotar and make it 2-1 Carolina through one. 
 
The scoring continued in the second as Drotar’s first home run of the day, a three-run blast, extended the Carolina lead to 5-1 through two. 
 
The third inning was as dominate as you will find in softball, as the Gamecocks scored nine runs with two outs. Jana Johns started the effort, drawing a hit by pitch with bases loaded and scored Lauren Stewart. 
 
From there Drotar blasted her second homer of the day, a grand slam, to make it 10-1 Carolina. Haley Simpson came off the bench later in the inning and produced with a three-run triple to extend the lead up to 13-1. But the Gamecocks weren’t done there, as Stewart blasted a single up the middle to score a run and make it 14-1. 
 
Karly Heath and Clark home runs in the fourth gave the squad two more runs and made it 16-1 through four in favor of the Gamecocks. 
 
Campbell looked to mount a comeback in the fifth with six runs but fell short as Drotar closed the door to seal the win. 
 
On top of her impressive 3-for-3 night at the plate, Drotar (3-1) also earned the victory in the circle going 4.2 innings with just one run allowed. 
 
Clark shined at the plate going 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Every Gamecock started reached base at least once in the game. 
 
 
NOTES: 

• The Gamecocks moved to 23-0 over the last six years in the Gamecock Invitational with the victory tonight. 
• South Carolina produced with at least 15 hits in a game for the first time since hitting 19 against Arkansas in 2016. 
• Cayla Drotar tied teammate Mackenzie Boesel for the most RBI in a game with eight tonight. 
• With the victory, the Gamecocks improved their season-high winning streak to three games. 
• South Carolina improved to 284-198 under head coach Beverly Smith with the win on Saturday.