April 21, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Redshirt senior Julie Sarratt tossed a three-hit shutout while South Carolina (32-17) posted an 11-hit barrage to take an 8-0 (6) win over Georgia Southern on Tuesday evening at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
Sarratt (16-9) struck out three and did not walk a batter in the victory. She worked out of trouble in the fifth inning after hitting the Eagles’ leadoff batter and surrendering a double to Rowan McGuire, getting three ground balls to escape the frame.
South Carolina scored two in the first on a bases loaded grounder by junior Jordan Bizzell that Georgia Southern (12-33) could not convert to an out. Senior Kristen Struett singled home junior Alaynie Page in the second after Page walked and stole second.
Struett plated the first run in the fourth on her triple, while sophomore Victoria Williams brought home Struett after her single off the glove of the Eagles’ first baseman. Sophomore Kaylea Snaer scored junior pinch runner Ansley Ard with a single to center to make it 6-0 after four innings.
Senior Olivia Lawrence made it 7-0 with a two-out home run to right in the fifth, and Ard ended the game with a squeeze bunt that let Page score from third.
Georgia Southern pitcher Kierra Camp (6-13) gave up eight earned runs on 11 hits and three walks in 5.1 innings in the loss.
Game Changer:
Sarratt and the Gamecock defense kept Georgia Southern’s offense from getting anything going, allowing only four base runners in the game.
Key Stat:
Seven Gamecocks had hits, including four with two hits: Page, Struett, Bizzell and Lawrence.
Notables:
• Page went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, those two pushing her past former All-American Michelle Delloso (1988-91) into 12th alone in Gamecock history.
• Page also claims 14th alone on the total base charts, moving past Amber Curtis (2001-04).
• Sarratt’s shutout, the 11th of her career, ties her with Melanie Henkes and Nikki Beers for 13th on the all-time list.
• Lexi Allen and Emily Snider had infield singles for Georgia Southern to go with McGuire’s double.
• Lawrence’s home run gives her 10 in her career.
• Both Struett and Bizzell drove in two runs, with Struett adding her fourth triple of the year.
• South Carolina closes up non-conference play in the regular season at 26-5.
Tweet of the Game:
Beautiful evening with @GamecockSoftbll #Gamecocks #LikeAGirl pic.twitter.com/xBxLaedaMb
— Carolina Christina (@LuvTheGamecocks) April 21, 2015
Quotable:
Head coach Beverly Smith
Anytime we can get a shutout, it’s great. We had some very good defensive plays to back up Julie (Sarratt), and she was solid tonight. From an offensive standpoint, we had a lot of quality at-bats down the lineup. Olivia Lawrence came up with a big home run for us.
On the recent run of winning play:
We’ve talked to our team about how important the last 10 games of the season are for us. I think they’re focused and competing well. It’s been our goal all season long to be playing our best ball at the end of the year.
Senior centerfielder Kristen Struett
On her good at-bats continuing:
It was a calm confidence that kept me consistent this weekend that I took into tonight. I was just seeing the ball well and hit it wherever she pitched it.
On her triple to the gap in right center:
Opposite-field (hitting) and being able to hit the ball in any direction are essential for this team scoring runs.
Up Next:
The Gamecocks take on the Rebels of the University of Mississippi in a three-game series in Oxford this weekend. Friday’s first pitch is set for 7 p.m. EDT and will be shown on SEC Network +.
