No. 23 Gamecocks Earn 12-2 Road Victory over Chanticleers

CONWAY, S.C. – Eight different players registered a hit for No. 23 South Carolina (16-10) in its 12-2 five-inning run-rule road victory over in-state foe Coastal Carolina (12-13) Wednesday night (Mar. 11).

Karley Shelton led the offense going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Nia McKnight went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Tori Ensley added two hits and two RBIs, while Quincee Lilio also drove in a pair of runs and scored three times.

The Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first. Lilio drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the game and Shelton quickly drove her home with a double to left center. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed Shelton to scamper home. Back-to-back walks and a single from Alyssa Hovermale loaded the bases for Carolina. Another walk, this time to Lexi Winters, brought home Arianna Rodi.

South Carolina broke the game open in the fourth as it scored six runs. Singles from Winters and McKnight led to a two-run double by Lilio down the right field line. Shelton followed with an RBI single up the middle. After a walk to Rodi, a pair of wild pitches again allowed Shelton to score. An RBI single from Ensley and an RBI double by Ansley Bennett capped off the inning.

Coastal Carolina got a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Gamecocks responded with three more runs in the fifth. On the second pitch of the inning Shae Anderson connected on her third home run of the season to straight away center. A double from McKnight and a walk to Lilio led to an RBI single by Shelton. One out later, Ensley drove home Lilio on a double down the left field line.

The Chanticleers added an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly but KG Favors got a strikeout to end the game.

Emma Friedel (6-3) earned the win, tossing three shutout innings as she struck out two and allowed only one hit.

The Gamecocks return home to host Boston College for a three-game series starting Friday at 6 p.m.

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.