April 8, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (26-14) used great pitching performances from redshirt junior Julie Sarratt and freshman Nickie Blue to down Campbell (23-21) 2-0 on Tuesday evening at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
The duo combined for the team’s 11th shutout at home this season while surrendering three hits between them. Sarratt (12-9) picked up the win by tossing four innings, striking out six and only allowing one hit and one walk. Freshman Nickie Blue garnered her fifth save of the season with three innings of scoreless ball, giving up two hits and two walks while fanning three. Blue allowed a one-out hit and walk in the seventh before catching a sacrifice bunt attempt for the second out. Another walk loaded the bases, but Blue induced a grounder to short to close the game.
The Gamecocks scored in the first on senior right fielder Chelsea Hawkins’ infield hit deep in the hole between short and third with the bases loaded. That scored senior second baseman Ashlyn Masters after she started the inning with a double.
In the fifth, junior Olivia Lawrence pinch hit with two outs and drove one off the top of the wall in right for her first career triple, scoring Masters to make it 2-0. Masters drew a leadoff walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman third baseman Taylor Williams and to third on a grounder to second by freshman designated player Victoria Williams.
Courtney Roberts (8-6) took the loss for the Camels, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and four walks, two intentionally, while striking out four.
Masters scored both Gamecock runs after reaching base three times, twice on walks and on her 16th double of the year, which ties for the SEC lead, in a 1-for-2 day. Masters’ double also moves her into a tie for seventh in a single season at South Carolina with five others. Lawrence posted an RBI triple, while Hawkins added an RBI single. Sophomore left fielder Ansley Ard went 2-for-3.
The Gamecocks’ win gives them 20 home victories for the first time since 2007. Sarratt’s win moves her into a tie for 14th with Nikki Beers on the career charts, and Blue’s save knots her with three others in sixth on the career charts. The fifth save for Blue also tie for third in a single season at South Carolina. Senior Dana Hathorn made her first career start at shortstop after her first 188 defensive starts came at second base.
South Carolina heads on the road for the final time in the 2014 regular season to face Arkansas in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. EDT at Bogle Park.
