No. 12 Gamecocks Drop Season Opener to Hokies

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 12 South Carolina softball team (0-1) fell to #19 Virginia Tech (1-0) after the Hokies plated seven runs in the sixth inning.

Jori Heard got the start for the Gamecocks in the circle, notching four strikeouts, while scattering six hits and three runs, one earned.

Pinch runner Lexie Shaver plated Carolina’s first run of the season in the bottom of third. A leadoff walk from Shae Anderson and single from Karley Shelton put runners in scoring position. Shaver, pinch running for Anderson, scored on a wild pitch.

The Hokies got on the board in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to even the score.

The Gamecocks threatened again in the bottom of the fifth when Anderson led off the inning with a double. Quincee Lilio and Arianna Rodi both drew walks to load the bases. Tate Davis singled up the middle to score Lilio and Anderson to give the Gamecocks a 3-1 lead. Pinch runner Nia McKnight added to the score when she came home on a throwing error by the Hokie catcher.

Virginia Tech answered with seven runs in the sixth to take the lead. Carolina brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded but were unable to knock in a run.

The Gamecocks return tomorrow (Feb. 6) at 3 p.m. to take on Syracuse in the Gamecock Invitational.

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.