No. 12 Gamecocks Earn Pair of Run-Rule Victories
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 12 South Carolina softball (3-2) team grabbed a pair of run-rule victories over Binghamton (1-4) and Winthrop (0-4) Sunday (Feb. 8) to close out the Gamecock Invitational. The Gamecocks defeated the Bearcats 9-1 and the Eagles 18-0.
On the day, nine different players recorded a hit and 10 players recorded an RBI. As a team, Carolina hit five home runs. Tori Ensley hit for the cycle on the day with a triple in game one and a single, double, and home run in game two.
Game One
Julie Kelley got the start for the Gamecocks in the circle, tossing three hitless innings and giving up one walk. Emma Friedel (1-1) earned the win in relief as she closed it out, pitching two hitless innings and striking out two.
Tori Ensley led off the bottom of the second with a triple and stole home on a double steal two batters later to notch Carolina’s first run.
The offense came alive in the fifth with a lead-off single from Quincee Lilio and a double from Karley Shelton. Arianna Rodi knocked in Lilio on a Bearcat error to make the score 2-1. Tate Davis drove a double down the left field line to score Shelton and Rodi. Shae Anderson added an RBI single to center. After a walk, Precious Bross earned her first RBI as a Gamecock, reaching on a fielder’s choice to score Lexi Winters. A passed ball and a throwing error allowed the final two Gamecocks to score and make it a seven-run inning.
Rodi sealed the deal for South Carolina in the sixth with a walk-off home run, her second of the season, to run-rule the Bearcats 9-1.
Game Two
KG Favors got the win in her first career start for the Gamecocks, pitching a scoreless three innings, scattering four hits and four strikeouts. Nealy Lamb finished the game, pitching two hitless innings to complete the shutout.
The Gamecocks offense came out swinging, notching three runs in the bottom of the first. Davis scored on a while pitch, Ensley had an RBI single, and Winter brought home a run on a sacrifice fly.
In the second, a pair of hits set up a three-run home run for Karley Shelton, her first of the season. Ensley and Winters followed with back-to-back doubles down the left field line to cap off a six-run inning.
South Carolina kept it rolling in the third with back-to-back lead-off doubles from Nia McKnight and Lilio. Davis sent Lilio home on a sac fly and Natalie Heath capped the inning with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A three-home run inning sealed the run-rule victory for South Carolina in the bottom of the fourth. McKnight connected on her first career home run, a two-run shot down the left field line. One out later Shelton followed with her second of the game. Ensley capped it off with a three-run shot, her first as a Gamecock.
The Gamecocks will return in the Carolina Classic starting Friday, Feb. 13, against Louisville at Carolina Softball Stadium. Boston University and Kennesaw State will also attend the tournament.
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.
