Oct. 18, 2011

by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina finished its fall softball season with three wins, taking Friday’s contest against Presbyterian 6-1 and sweeping Saturday’s doubleheader from Appalachian State 8-2 and 8-6. The Gamecocks ended the fall with a 6-2 record.

Against the Blue Hose, junior shortstop Samie Garcia went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI, while seniors Kaitlin Westfall and Evan Childs both posted two hits that included a double. Childs added a solo homer as well, reaching in all four plate appearances. The big inning came in the third, as senior Lauren Lackey plated Garcia with her triple. Westfall drove in Lackey with a double before scoring herself on sophomore Chelsea Hawkins’ double, which also brought home Childs after she drew a one-out walk. Freshman Katelynn Howser tossed three scoreless innings in relief, fanning three and giving up two hits.

The first game against the Mountaineers saw the Gamecocks post two three-run innings en route to an 8-2 win. Junior Hannah Milks homered in a 2-for-4 afternoon, while Childs went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Westfall also drove in a run as well as senior Kylie Morin and freshmen Olivia Lawrence and Lacey Rother. Redshirt junior Audrey Broyles picked up the win, scattering six hits over five innings of work, allowing two earned runs while striking out four.

Game two saw the Gamecocks come from a 6-4 deficit to take the 8-6 win. Senior Sam Arbaugh and sophomore Codee Yeske both posted two hits, with Arbaugh scoring twice and hitting a triple. Yeske plated two and had a double. Yeske, Lackey, Westfall and Childs all had RBIs in the decisive fourth inning. Senior Kierstyn White posted three scoreless relief innings, walking one, giving up one hit and fanning one.

The Gamecocks practice twice more as a full team this fall before moving into individual workouts for the rest of the semester.