No. 16 Gamecocks Sweep Friday Doubleheader

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 16th ranked South Carolina softball team (5-2) picked up a pair of wins Friday (Feb. 13) on the first day of the Carolina Classic. The Gamecocks earned a 9-1 five-inning run-rule win over Louisville (4-3) and capped off the night with a 6-2 win over Boston University (3-4).

Tate Davis led all players with four hits on the day to go along with two RBIs. Karley Shelton finished with three hits and four RBIs.

GAME 1

Louisville plated a run in the top of the first, but after that it was all Gamecocks. With two outs in the bottom of the first Arianna Rodi drew a walk. Davis then hit a double off the wall in right center that allowed Rodi to score from first.

In the fourth Carolina plated a pair of runs on sacrifice bunt from Shae Anderson and an RBI single from Quincee Lilio.

South Carolina put the run rule into effect with a six-run bottom of the fifth. Tori Ensley brought the first run home on a sacrifice fly to left. Lexi Winters followed with a two-run home run to left field, her first of the season. Shelton brought home two more runs on a single up. Davis finished it off with a flare to right field that score pinch runner Dakota Potter.

Jori Heard (1-0) picked up her first win of the season, tossing 1 1-3 innings of relief while not allowing a batter to reach.

GAME 2

Emma Friedel (2-1) was outstanding in the circle for Carolina in the nightcap as she scattered two hits in five innings of work and struck out a season-high six batters.

Ensley got the offense going in the bottom of the second with an RBI double. A couple batters later with the bases load Ensley scored on a passed ball.

The Gamecocks added a run in the fourth on an RBI single from Jamie Mackay. They would add two more in the sixth on a two-out, two-run triple by Shelton.

Boston University loaded the bases and scored twice in the top of the seventh, but freshman Ansley Bennett came on to strike out back-to-back Terriers to earn her first career save.

The Gamecocks and Terrier will have a rematch Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and then Carolina will take on Kennesaw State following the conclusion of that game to close out the Carolina Classic.

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.