Blue, Gamecocks Control No. 9/9 Alabama in 14-0 Game One Win
March 26, 2017
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Behind a dominating performance by senior Nickie Blue and an offensive explosion, South Carolina (21-11, 2-6 SEC) gained a 14-0 victory at No. 9/9 Alabama (29-4, 6-2 SEC) in Sunday’s first game at Rhoads Stadium.
Blue shut down the Crimson Tide offense, striking out four while not walking a batter and giving up only two hits. She got 11 groundouts during the shutout win.
The Gamecocks struck in the second when, after senior Victoria Williams singled, junior Alyssa VanDerveer stepped up and drilled an 0-1 pitch out to left center for her fourth home run of the year. VanDerveer made it 4-0 in the fifth with a one-out, two-RBI single, scoring outfielders Kennedy Clark and Tiara Duffy. Both walked and moved up on an Alabama’s error that loaded the bases ahead of VanDerveer.
Senior Kaylea Snaer started the sixth with an infield single, and freshman Mackenzie Boesel followed with a walk. Both moved into scoring position on Clark’s groundout, and junior Krystan White stepped up and stroked a single up the middle, bringing both home to put South Carolina up 6-0.
The Gamecocks tacked on more in the seventh, sending 11 batters to the plate. South Carolina loaded the bases on singles by junior Jordyn Augustus and Kamryn Watts and a walk to Snaer. Boesel’s grounder squirted through the legs of the Alabama second baseman, letting two runs score. Clark and White followed with RBI singles. With two down, Williams sent one into the gap in right center, allowing both Clark and White to score. Senior Taylor Williams, who led off the inning, stepped up and hit her second homer of the year to push the score to 14-0.
Alabama starter Alexis Osorio (16-2) took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits and six walks in 4.1 innings.
Game Changer
Blue mowed through the Alabama order, including going through the order perfectly the first time through. She threw 93 pitches in the complete-game win.
Key Stat
It’s the most runs an opponent has ever scored at Alabama in the 21-year history of the Tide’s program.
Notables
The Gamecocks roughed up Osorio, tying for the most runs allowed in a start this year by the junior with her outing at Louisiana-Lafayette. SC’s six walks fell one shy of the season high she allowed to the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Every Gamecock starter reached base, with eight of those recording hits along with one sub.
Four Gamecocks tallied two hits: VanDerveer, White, Victoria Williams and Watts.
Snaer walked three times, scored twice and went 1-for-2.
Taylor Williams’ home run moved her into a tie for 14th in career round-trippers with her classmate Victoria as well as former All-American Kim Pietro (1996-99).
It’s tied for the most runs scored in a game this season for South Carolina, joining the 14 against Presbyterian in the opening weekend of the year.
It’s South Carolina’s first win at Alabama since 2004, ending a 18-game losing streak at the Capstone. It’s the most runs the Gamecocks have scored in the series, topping a 10-9 win in Tuscaloosa on April 25, 1998.
It ties for the second-most runs scored against the Crimson Tide in history, behind 16 tallied by Florida in the 2011 Women’s College World Series.
It’s South Carolina’s first road win over a top-10 team since beating No. 3 Arizona State on Feb. 27, 2014.
Tide second baseman Demi Turner had both Alabama hits.
TWEET OF THE GAME
THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME https://t.co/zCshmCkYuU
— kelli mack (@KelliMcCormack) March 26, 2017
