March 14, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina staked itself to a 2-0 lead, but No. 13/15 Texas A&M used a five-run fourth to gain a 5-2 win on Friday night at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
With one down in the Aggies’ fifth, Jenna Stark sent a two-run homer over the wall in left center to tie the game, scoring Taran Tyler after her one-out single. A walk to and a stolen base by Cali Lanphear put another Aggie in scoring position, but a strikeout by Gamecock freshman starter Nickie Blue got her one out away from escaping with a 2-2 tie. Instead, a bunt single by Emily Albus started a run of three-straight hits for Texas A&M (21-5, 3-1 SEC), scoring three more runs. April Ryan drove in the go-ahead run with her single to left, while Nicole Morgan plated the final two with a hit to right. Gamecock redshirt junior Julie Sarratt came in and struck out the Aggies’ cleanup hitter to end the frame.
South Carolina (15-8, 0-4 SEC) took a 1-0 lead in the first with freshman first baseman Kaylea Snaer’s two-out homer to left, her fifth of the season. In the third, Snaer struck again with two outs, driving in senior shortstop Codee Yeske with her liner off of Aggie pitcher Katie Marks’ glove. Yeske started the inning with a double and moved to third on senior second baseman Ashlyn Masters’ single up the middle.
The Gamecocks put the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the fourth with no one out. Singles by freshman designated player Victoria Williams and senior centerfielder Chelsea Hawkins gave South Carolina a chance to cut the lead, but three fly outs, only the first one deep enough to allow the the lead runner to move up, kept the Gamecocks trailing by three. Texas A&M’s Abby Donnell entered in the fifth and struck out one in a perfect three innings of work for her second save of the year.
Marks (11-0) picked up the win in her return to Carolina Softball Stadium, scattering eight hits and two earned runs over four innings. She was helped by double plays that ended the second and third, thwarting the Gamecocks’ efforts. Marks transferred to Texas A&M after her first year at South Carolina.
Blue (9-4) took the loss for the Gamecocks, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and a walk in 3.2 innings. Sarratt only allowed one hit in 3.1 innings while striking out five.
Albus, Stark and Tyler all had two hits for the Aggies, with Stark and Morgan both posting two RBI. The Gamecock freshmen Snaer and Williams had two hits each for the Gamecocks, with Snaer posting both RBI.
South Carolina and Texas A&M tangle in a doubleheader on Saturday due to the forecasts on Sunday calling for rain. First pitch for game one is set for 2 p.m. EDT, with the second game following approximately 30 minutes after. With the stadium being cleared between games, season-ticket holders will need to bring both Saturday and Sunday’s tickets to watch both games. There will be ticket available at the gate as well for fans wanting to come, and Gametracker and live video will be available at GamecocksOnline.com.
