April 3, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (27-9) landed a six-run third and held on to take a 10-7 win over Troy (23-12) on Sunday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
The Gamecocks scored in the first after freshman shortstop Kenzi Maguire doubled home senior centerfielder Alaynie Page after Page started the frame with a single and a stolen base. Troy tied things in the second on a bases-loaded grounder and took a 2-1 lead in the third on a stolen base by Erica Davis and an errant Gamecock throw that let her score on the play.
Responding with a six-run third, South Carolina took advantage of three Troy errors in the frame. Freshman right fielder Kennedy Clark doubled home Maguire before scoring on sophomore Krystan White’s sacrifice fly. A throwing error let sophomore pinch runner Jordyn Augustus come home on White’s fly ball as well, as she took advantage of the throw bouncing away from the Trojans up the first-base line. Junior Macey Webb added a sacrifice fly, while Page singled home the final two runs.
The Trojans got one back in the fourth on consecutive doubles by Becca Hartley and Carli Kayler, but South Carolina’s advantage grew to 10-4 in the bottom half on White’s two-run double and a wild pitch that let White score after she moved to third on a fly out.
Troy kept fighting, as Hartley hit a two-out, three-run homer in the fifth to make it 10-6 before closing to within three with Hartley’s RBI single in the seventh. With the tying run at the plate, Gamecock reliever Nickie Blue shut the door with a fly out to left, as Gamecock junior Taylor Williams leaped on her run towards the corner to make the catch.
South Carolina junior Jessica Elliott (14-2) picked up the win, giving up six runs, five earned, on four hits, three walks and three hit batters in five innings of work. She struck out seven. Troy starter Ashley Rainey (12-9) took the loss, giving up three earned runs on four hits and two walks in two-plus innings in the circle.
Game Changer:
The six-run third put the Gamecocks on top, helping the team win its 27th game this year.
Key Stat:
The first four Gamecock hitters all had two hits, while batters No. 2-5 all doubled in the game.
Notables:
• White led South Carolina with three RBI in her 1-for-1 day, as she had a double, a sac bunt, a sac fly and a walk.
• Maguire, Clark and junior Kaylea Snaer all doubled in two-hit days, while Page went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base.
• Williams reached base in all four plate appearances, walking twice while getting hit twice as well.
• Page’s hit puts her in 12th all-time at South Carolina, while Snaer’s double ties her with four others in 13th on that list.
• That double also pushes Snaer into a tie for fifth on the single-season charts with three other Gamecocks, now with 17 on the year.
• Hartley went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, four RBI, the double and the home run.
Tweet of the Game:
What a great two day weekend SWEEP of Troy for #GamecockSB! Way to clean house! Congrats ladies! #Gamecocks #GoCocks pic.twitter.com/DrU3H1MDhq
— Kirk Hollingsworth (@theUSC) April 3, 2016
Quotable:
Head coach Beverly Smith
I liked the way we hit the ball this weekend. We did a great job with runners in scoring position, and we put a lot of pressure on Troy’s defense. Our players answered back very well (in that third) and took advantage of some miscues. Every bag and every run counts, and we needed that today.
On Krystan White’s weekend:
She had a great weekend for us. She’s somebody who’s pounding right-center field for us and is an RBI producer for us.
Up Next:
South Carolina hosts UNC Wilmington to wrap up the short home stand on Tues., April 5 at 6 p.m. EDT.
