Comeback Efforts Fall Short in 4-3 Loss at No. 11/11 Alabama
March 9, 2014
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – South Carolina loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh down by three but only managed to get two runs, falling to No. 11/11 Alabama 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
The Gamecocks (14-7, 0-3 SEC) posted two singles to start the final inning, coming from freshman designated player Victoria Williams and senior right fielder Chelsea Hawkins. Redshirt freshman Lauren Masters drew a walk in her pinch-hitting appearance to load the bases. Alabama (20-4, 3-0 SEC) brought in freshman Sydney Littlejohn, who tossed a wild pitch to let sophomore pinch runner Ansley Ard score from third. After Bizzell lined out to Littlejohn, the Tide’s reliever induced a ground ball back to herself again, and Hawkins wisely ran home when Littlejohn didn’t check her, making it 4-3 and putting the tying run in junior centerfielder Kristen Struett on third. Senior second baseman Ashlyn Masters worked to a 3-1 count and sent a rocket to left, but Alabama’s Kallie Case dashed to her left and made a running catch of the liner to end the game.
Case had RBI singles in the first and second, plating Haylie McCleney in the first and Andrea Hawkins in the second. McCleney led off the first with a tapped infield single before stealing second and scoring on Case’s first RBI hit. Jaydn Spencer drove in Case in the first with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. With two down in the second and runners at second and third, Case hit one that the Gamecock shortstop mishandled, letting Hawkins score, but McCleney also tried to make it home on the play. The senior Codee Yeske quickly turned and threw home to get her to end the second.
In the third, Alabama had runners at first and second and one out before a pitch got away at the plate, moving both runners into scoring position. Danielle Richard lifted a fly ball to center, letting the lead runner Kaila Hunt score from third. The throw from Struett to third beat the second runner, and Bizzell made the tag to end the inning and stop Alabama’s scoring at 4-0.
South Carolina started the comeback bid with its run in the fifth, as senior offensive player Brooke Barnhill walked and stole second before moving to third on Hawkins’ first hit of the day. Struett grounded to the shortstop, who forced off Hawkins while Barnhill scored to make it 4-1.
Tide starter Jaclyn Traina (7-2) got the win, giving up three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four in six-plus innings of work. Littlejohn picked up the save, her first of the year, not allowing a hit to the three batters she faced. Gamecock redshirt junior Julie Sarratt (5-4) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and a walk in 2.1 innings. Freshman Nickie Blue tossed 3.2 innings in relief, not allowing a run against herself while scattering two hits and a walk. She fanned one.
McCleney and Case both went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Case picked up two RBI. Williams and Hawkins both went 2-for-2 for the Gamecocks. Struett and senior Dana Hathorn had RBI for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks return home to start a five-game home stand, starting with Tuesday’s game against Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m. EDT.
