April 1, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A career-best three-hit night for junior Jordan Bizzell helped propel South Carolina (26-12) to a 9-1 win in six innings over the College of Charleston (17-18) on Wednesday night at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
After College of Charleston got a run in the first on Mackenzie Maples’ double after an SC error to the leadoff batter, the Gamecocks answered with three in their half of the first. With the bases loaded, redshirt sophomore Lauren Masters plated one with a fielder’s choice, helped by sophomore Kaylea Snaer’s baserunning to let Masters reach first. With two outs, senior Kristen Struett drove a ball into the left field corner, scoring two more on the double to make it 3-1.
With the bases loaded in the second, sophomore Victoria Williams drove home the fourth run with a grounder. In the sixth, three straight doubles put the Gamecocks on the brink of shortening the game, as Bizzell, Williams and Snaer all had RBI two-base hits to make it 8-1. After a hit-by-pitch and a fielder’s choice, freshman Caroline Cash ended the contest with a pinch-hit single, scoring freshman pinch runner Kamryn Watts from second.
Gamecock redshirt senior Julie Sarratt (14-7) picked up the win with her sixth complete game in her seventh-consecutive start. She allowed the unearned run on five hits and a walk while fanning two. Cougar starter Samantha Martin (6-7) took the loss, giving up eight runs, seven earned, on seven hits and five walks in 5.1 innings.
Game Changer:
The two-out RBI double by Struett in the first helped the Gamecocks go on top for good.
Key Stat:
Bizzell went 3-for-4, her first career three-hit game, scoring twice and driving in a run with her seventh-inning double.
Notables:
• Junior Alaynie Page extended her hitting streak to nine games with a first-inning single. She walked twice, once intentionally, and scored two runs.
• Williams drove in three runs and had the double.
• Freshman Krystan White scored twice as well in a 1-for-3 night.
• Snaer also drew two walks and had the RBI double in the seventh.
• Allison Pedigo stood as the only Cougar with two hits, while Maples had the only extra-base hit for College of Charleston.
• The four doubles marks the fourth time this season the Gamecocks have posted that many in a game, the first coming in the first meeting against the Cougars on Feb. 14.
• Paid attendance for the game came in at 1,383.
Tweet of the Game:
Sarratt is dealing so far. Sits the Cougars down 1-2-3 in the 5th. She hasn’t let a run cross the plate since the 1st. #Gamecocks lead 4-1.
— Spurs & Feathers (@SpursFeathers) April 1, 2015
Quotable:
South Carolina Head Coach
I’ve been pleased, not just with tonight but the last few games with our team’s focus with situational hitting. We’ve done a nice job getting runners on to start the inning and moving the runners in scoring position and being really focused with runners in scoring position.
Junior third baseman Jordan Bizzell
On her renewed focus and success at the plate
I (am) trusting my eyes. I’ve been trying this new thing that Coach Cal and I have been working on, and I’m really liking it.
Up Next:
South Carolina takes on No. 3/3 Florida in a three-game series in Gainesville this weekend. Friday’s first pitch is set for 6 p.m. EDT, while Saturday’s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. All three games will be shown on SEC Network +.
