Feb. 7, 2015
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Gamecock offense exploded in the seventh inning for the second time on Saturday, posting seven runs in the 11-2 win over host East Carolina (2-1) in South Carolina’s nightcap.
Sophomore third baseman Taylor Williams started the scoring by depositing the first pitch of the fourth over the center field wall for a solo home run. Three batters later, junior right fielder Ansley Ard lined one off the wall in right center, scoring junior left fielder Alaynie Page from second after she singled and stole second to get into scoring position.
The Gamecocks (3-0) posted two more runs in the fifth on senior centerfielder Kristen Struett’s triple to right, scoring redshirt sophomore Lauren Masters from first after a leadoff walk, and freshman shortstop Kamryn Watts’ infield single, her first collegiate hit.
East Carolina had runs in each of the fourth and fifth, threatening for much more in the latter inning. Karlie Smith reached on a Gamecock throwing error to start the inning and scored after Ciara Ervin reached on an infield single with two down. The Pirates added another on Smith’s bases-loaded walk, forcing in Meredith Mitchell after she started the frame with a hit.
Williams hit her second blast with two on in the seventh, making it a 7-2 South Carolina lead. Page doubled home Watts to make it 8-2, and Masters made it 11-2 with a two-out, three-run home run.
Sophomore Nickie Blue (1-0) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing two runs, one earned, on two walks and five hits. She struck out eight.
Pirate pitcher Caroline Umphlett (1-1) gave up 11 earned runs on 15 hits and six walks in 6.2 innings in the loss. She fanned four.
Game Changer:
After East Carolina cut the lead in the fifth with a bases-loaded walk, Blue got two groundouts and a strikeout to escape the inning without any more damage. She retired the final nine batters in order to complete the win.
Key Stat:
Taylor Williams’ two home runs tied a program record for blasts in a game, and she drove in four while reaching base in all four trips to the plate.
Notables:
- Page and Ard both had two hits, a double and an RBI in the win.
- Masters reached base four times with two hits, two runs and two walks, driving in three with her first homer of the year.
- Struett had her second triple of the day in a 3-for-5 outing.
- Watts went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
- Five different Pirates collected hits, but Smith contributed to both ECU runs, scoring the first and forcing in the second with her bases-loaded walk.
Up Next:
South Carolina wraps up its stay at the Pirate Classic with games against Longwood at 2 p.m. and East Carolina at 4:30 p.m. the scheduled starts.
