April 9, 2016
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A five-run rally in the seventh propelled South Carolina (30-9, 4-7 SEC) to a 7-5 win over Arkansas (15-25, 0-11 SEC) in Saturday’s contest at Bogle Park.
The Gamecocks had leadoff walks to senior left fielder Alaynie Page and freshman designated player Alexis Mack to start the frame. Freshman right fielder Kennedy Clark brought home Page with a single to left, Page sliding in under the tag, with both runners advancing on the throw home. Junior first baseman Kaylea Snaer hit a fly ball into deep right center that hit off the Razorback centerfielder’s glove, letting both runs score to tie the game and Snaer to reach third. Sophomore second baseman Krystan White then tripled into the right field corner, scoring sophomore pinch runner Jordyn Augustus to give South Carolina the lead. An errant throw from the corner let White score as well, making it 7-5 Gamecocks.
Junior pitcher Nickie Blue (14-7) tossed the final two innings for the Gamecocks to pick up the win, striking out two, including the final batter.
South Carolina took the early 1-0 in the second on a fielder’s choice. Freshman shortstop Kenzi Maguire singled to start the frame and took second on sophomore third baseman Kamryn Watts’ walk. After an out, senior centerfielder Ansley Ard hit a grounder to second. The Razorbacks got the out at second, but Ard beat the throw to first, and Maguire wisely took home on the play.
The Razorbacks responded with five runs over the next two frames. Infield bases-loaded singles by Shelby Hiers and Ashley Diaz brought in the first two runs in the second, while the third crossed on a wild pitch. With two down in the third, Lauren Archuleta posted a double to the gap in right center, scoring two more to make it 5-1. Snaer made it 5-2 in the fifth with her two-out RBI single, scoring Mack.
Arkansas starter Grace Moll (10-20) took the loss, giving up seven runs, five earned, on eight hits and five walks. She struck out six.
Game Changer:
The walks to start the seventh, on four and five pitches, spurred the rally.
Key Note:
It’s the Gamecocks’ first seventh-inning comeback since March 30, 2014, when two bases-loaded walks made SC 7-6 winners over Mississippi in the series finale.
Notables:
• Coming from four runs back, this marks South Carolina’s biggest deficit overcome in 2016.
• Snaer went 2-for-2 with two RBI, the sacrifice fly and a walk. The free pass ties her for seventh with Amber Curtis (2001-04) on that career listing.
• Mack went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
• White’s seventh-inning triple is her first as a Gamecock.
• Three other Gamecocks had hits.
• Arkansas’s Hiers went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Diaz went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Madison Yannetti scored twice, and Archuleta had the two-RBI double.
Tweet of the Game:
WOW WOW WOW!! What a game . . .what a game . .. what a game! Congrats @GamecockSoftbll !! Way to hang in there and score 5 in the 7th!!
— Lexie deVries (@lexiestrex) April 9, 2016
Quotable:
Head coach Beverly Smith
What an exciting seventh inning. One thing about this team is you can never count them out. They have a tremendous fight, and all year long, we’ve found ways to win. I’m just really proud of their confidence and their ability to fight back and believe. Alexis Mack had a great day, getting on base three times, as well as Kaylea Snaer.
It was really about the continued adjustments our team made at the plate. Kennedy Clark was 0-for-3 going into her last at bat, and she had the hit that scored our first run in the seventh. Same thing for Krystan White, she came up big with her RBI in the seventh. The players stayed focused and continued to make adjustments.
Jessica Elliott pitched a nice game; we just didn’t give her a ton of support on defense. Nickie Blue did a great job of coming in, shutting the door on Arkansas’s offense and continuing to give us a chance to string something together.
Up Next:
The squads close the three-game series with Sunday’s 1 p.m. CDT contest at Bogle Park.
