April 11, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (28-15, 3-10 SEC) shut down Arkansas (14-26, 0-13 SEC) in Saturday’s resumption of Friday’s suspended game, with the Gamecocks claiming an 8-0 win in six innings at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
The Gamecocks posted the first run of the game on Friday night just before the lightning suspended the game. With runners at the corners and one out, senior catcher Sarah Mooney grounded one to third. The throw came home, but the high tag was ruled to come after junior Jordan Bizzell’s slide let her reach the plate. The game was halted after 29 minutes of play on Friday night.
After play resumed on Saturday, the Gamecocks pushed the lead to 2-0 on redshirt sophomore Lauren Masters’ two-out RBI single in the third.
Junior left fielder Alaynie Page drove in the first run of the fourth for the Gamecocks with an RBI single off the Razorback third baseman’s glove, bringing home freshman pinch runner Jordyn Augustus. With the bases loaded, sophomore Victoria Williams hit a grounder to the second baseman, playing in to try to cut down the run at home. The throw came in high at the same time as freshman shortstop Krystan White slid in, but with the throw getting away, Page scored as well.
Masters’ second RBI single of the contest made it 6-0 in the sixth, scoring junior Ansley Ard. Sophomore third baseman Taylor Williams’ sacrifice fly plated freshman pinch runner Kamryn Watts, and senior catcher Olivia Lawrence ended the game with her single through the right side, sending home freshman pinch runner Tiara Duffy with the eighth run.
Gamecock sophomore pitcher Nickie Blue (14-6) picked up the victory with a two-hit shutout, striking out five in six innings. Haley Meinen (1-6) took the loss for Arkansas, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and four walks in 5.2 innings.
Game Changer:
Blue’s 79-pitch shutout, 33 coming on Friday night and the other 46 coming on Saturday, set the tone for the Gamecocks.
Key Stat:
For the second-consecutive game, South Carolina won without getting an extra-base hit, improving the record in games like that to 2-5 on the year.
Notables:
• Masters went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
• Page went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. The RBI tied her for 18th in program history with Amber Curtis (2001-04).
• Bizzell was hit by two pitches, tying Kristen Struett and three others with 12 in their careers, which ranks eighth.
• The last time a Gamecock batter was hit by two pitches in a game was Codee Yeske on Feb. 14, 2014 against LIU Brooklyn.
• Bizzell also moves into a tie for third in a single season in HBP with Kristin Hall’s 8 in 2005.
• Lawrence’s HBP tied her four others in 13th.
• All nine Gamecock starters reached base at least once, with seven recording hits. Two others had hits off the bench.
Tweet of the Game:
@GamecockSoftbll great win over ark. Thanks @Cocky2001 for the awesome seats. #daddydaughterday pic.twitter.com/nqnUBl7TlU
— Shawn Skillman (@Life_Skillz) April 11, 2015
