March 3, 2013
STATESBORO, Ga. – Behind big performances from freshmen Katie Marks and Alaynie Page, South Carolina (11-3) downed Florida International (12-9) 8-0 in six innings in the Gamecocks’ first game on Sunday in the Eagle Classic.
Marks (4-1) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Golden Panthers, striking out seven without issuing a walk. Page led the offensive attack with a bases-loaded double that broke the game open. Juniors Chelsea Hawkins and Codee Yeske as well as sophomores Olivia Lawrence and Kristen Struett all had two hits each, with Lawrence and Struett scoring twice and Yeske adding two RBI.
The Gamecocks struck in the second, first on Lawrence’s RBI single, which scored Struett after she started the frame with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a groundout. South Carolina loaded the bases with a walk and an infield single, and senior shortstop Samie Garcia made it 2-0 with a hit to right, plating Lawrence. Page followed with a bases-clearing double to right center, handing the Gamecocks the 5-0 lead.
That advantage grew to 7-0 in the third when Yeske singled back up the middle, scoring Hawkins and Lawrence after they had hits to start the inning. The end came in the sixth, when Struett singled with one down, moved to second on an error and third after Lawrence was hit by a pitch and scored on the second error of the inning on the Golden Panthers’ shortstop.
Mariah Dawson (2-6) took the loss for Florida International, giving up five earned runs on five hits and two walks in 1.2 innings.
