Feb. 9, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A patient approach paid off for South Carolina (3-1) in the Carolina Classic finale on Sunday, as the Gamecocks downed UNC Greensboro 13-0 in five innings at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
Junior catcher Sarah Mooney went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI to lead South Carolina. Freshman third baseman Taylor Williams cranked her first career homer and drove in three runs as well. Senior designated player Ashlyn Masters had a double, and RBI and two runs scored, while three other Gamecocks (Williams, Kaylea Snaer and Dana Hathorn) also scored two runs. Snaer also drew two of the five walks the Gamecocks recorded in the win. The Spartans (1-3) got hits from Lindsay Thomas, Katelyn Bedwell and Dominique Madruga in the loss.
Ten Gamecocks came to the plate in the first inning, with each of the first five batters reaching base. Sophomore centerfielder Ansley Ard singled ahead of Hathorn reaching on an error. A walk to Masters loaded the bases for the freshman Snaer, and she drove in two of those runners with her single to center. Mooney followed with a double down the third-base line, plating Masters and Snaer, while Mooney scored on freshman third baseman Victoria Williams’ single.
South Carolina topped their first in the home half of the third with eight runs with 12 players coming to the plate. A pitch hit Ard with the bases loaded to start the scoring, and Hathorn drove in the seventh run of the game with a groundout. Masters’ double sent home senior shortstop Codee Yeske, and Hathorn scored on a wild pitch two batters later. Mooney scored Masters with her second hit of the day. With two runners on, Taylor Williams lined the eighth pitch of her at-bat off the new protective screen protecting the track complex in left center for her first career homer, a three-run shot to cap it at 13-0.
All the while, the Gamecock pitchers shut down UNC Greensboro’s offense, holding them to three hits and two walks. Freshman pitcher Nickie Blue (3-0) allowed the three hits in three innings of work for her third win of the year. Redshirt junior Julie Sarratt came on and fanned three in two innings, walking two. Spartan starter Nicole Thomas (0-1) took the loss, giving up 10 runs, eight earned, on five hits and four walks. She struck out two.
In the earlier action on Sunday, Ohio (4-0) defeated Iowa (3-2) by a score of 9-6, and UNC Greensboro came back for a 5-4 victory over Presbyterian (0-4).
The Gamecocks hit the road for five games next week, starting with Wednesday’s contest at the D.L. Phillips Complex against the Charlotte 49ers. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. EDT, with live audio coverage available at GamecocksOnline.com. South Carolina takes on the field at the Florida Atlantic Strike Out Cancer Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla., from Feb. 14-16.
