Gamecocks Hit The Road For Orlando For Weekend
Feb. 22, 2018
South Carolina To Orlando
- Live Stream
- Game Notes
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Softball takes its season-high seven-game winning streak to Orlando, Fla., this weekend for the D9 Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Carolina will open the tournament with two games Friday starting with Louisville at 12:30 PM ET. Live stats and live stream information can be found on social media and gamecocksonline.com.
Field Information
For fans joining the Gamecocks in Orlando, the first two games of the classic will be played on Field 14 while the final three will be on Field 12.
The Gamecocks
Carolina comes into the 2018 season looking to build upon a 34- 25 season in which the Gamecocks reached the regional final for the third time under the direction of head coach Beverly Smith.
The Gamecocks welcome seven freshmen and transfer Dixie Raley to the program this season to bring the Gamecocks to 20 active members.
Head coach Beverly Smith has been California Dreaming with her roster, as South Carolina has six Californians on the team, more than any other state combined. The next closest is a tie with three between Georgia and South Carolina.
Carolina won’t be lacking arms this season with five available coming into the new season, leaving 15 fielders.
The Upcoming Week
The Gamecocks closed out a five-game home stand against North Carolina Tuesday night in a 5-0 win on SEC Network + before hitting the road for Orlando for the weekend.
Carolina takes a season-high seven-game winning streak into the weekend as the Gamecocks posted a perfect 5-0 record last week with a road win paired with four victories at home.
Carolina was on TV for the first time this season on Tuesday with SEC Network + airing the game against UNC.
South Carolina’s five opponents for the weekend come into the tournament with a 16-14 record.
A Look Back… The Second Week Of Success
The Gamecocks posted a perfect 5-0 record last week against Charlotte, Michigan State, Southern Illinois, Georgetown and Mercer. Carolina won by a combined 24-8 on the week.
Kamryn Watts couldn’t have asked for a much better last five games, as the senior posted a .500 batting average on five hits and a .545 on-base percentage.
Mackenzie Boesel continued to lead the way at the plate for the Gamecocks last week, hitting .429 on six hits with 5 RBI and a .529 on-base percentage.
Teams struggled against Gamecock pitching as the trio of Dixie Raley, Kelsey Oh and Cayla Drotar held opponents to a low .168 batting average while striking out 36.
Better Look Into Boesel
Just 11 games into the 2018 season, Mackenzie Boesel leads the Gamecocks in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, total bases and slugging percentage.
Better Look Into Maguire
Thus far through 11 games, Kenzi Maguire is the only Gamecock to have reached base in every game. She’s posted a strong .433 batting average with 11 runs scored and five hit by pitches to produce a .564 on-base percentage.
The Field… A Deeper Look
Louisville comes into the tournament boasting a 6-3 mark after a 1-2 record in the ACC/Big 10 challenge last week in Raleigh, N.C.
Miami (Oh) comes into the weekend with a 1-4 record after facing stiff competition through five games coupled with bad luck with rain causing games to be rained out.
The Bradley Braves come into Orlando with a 3-2 record after having its last two previously scheduled games called o due to rain. South Alabama comes into the weekend fresh off a split with No. 7 Florida State at home during a quick two-game midweek series.
Lehigh has waited all year for this weekend as it will be opening its season this weekend in Orlando. Lehigh comes o a 2017 season in which it finished 36-20.
