Gamecocks Wrap West Coast Trip with 4-2 Win over Long Beach St.
March 5, 2017
FULLERTON, Calif. – South Carolina (16-5) closed out its time in the Judi Garman Classic with a 4-2 win over Long Beach State (6-10-1) on Sunday afternoon at Anderson Family Field 2.
Gamecock seniors came through in the bottom half of the third to give South Carolina the lead after the 49ers claimed a 1-0 lead in the top half on Sammi Gyerman’s RBI single. Taylor Williams tied the game with a solo shot to left, her first of the year, while Kaylea Snaer gave the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead after her RBI double scored junior Kamryn Watts, who followed Williams with a single
The lead grew to 4-1 on run-scoring singles by Williams and freshman Mackenzie Boesel, but LBSU got a run back on an errant throw in the fifth, allowing Andrea Guzman to score from third.
Gamecock senior Jessica Elliott (6-2) tossed three innings in relief to get the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks. Christina Clermont (4-4) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on seven hits and two walks in 3.2 innings of work. Nickie Blue came on and scattered three hits over the final two innings to get her second save of the year.
GAME CHANGER
Williams’ blast turned the Gamecocks offense on after a hitless first two frames.
KEY STAT
Williams went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs.
NOTABLES
Watts went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Boesel reached base three times, walking twice while going 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Williams’ home run ties her for 15th in program history with 13 career round-trippers.
Three 49ers (Gyerman, Hannah Cookson & LT Torres) had two hits, but no one had an extra-base hit.
The Gamecocks turned four double plays during the Judi Garman Classic, with this game the only one in which they didn’t.
Up Next
The Gamecocks return home for a midweek clash against Virginia Tech. First pitch for Wednesday’s contest is slated for 6 p.m. at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
