Feb. 22, 2012

Box Score | Photo Gallery

by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A second-straight offensive onslaught sent South Carolina (7-3) to a 9-1 win in five innings over in-state rival Winthrop (4-4) on Wednesday afternoon at Beckham Field.

Sophomore second baseman Dana Hathorn led the Gamecocks with a 2-for-3 day, posting a pair of two-run doubles. Junior shortstop Samie Garcia went 2-for-3, extending her hitting streak to nine games, with two runs scored and a stolen base. Junior rightfielder Hannah Milks and sophomore designated player Chelsea Hawkins both went 2-for-3 as well, with Hawkins driving in two with her first-inning double.

Hathorn and Hawkins both drove in two in the first on doubles to make it 4-0 Gamecocks. That grew to 7-0 in the second after senior third baseman Evan Childs drove home Garcia with a bloop single and Hathorn followed with her second double, plating senior centerfielder Lauren Lackey and Childs.

The Eagles got a run back in the fourth, loading the bases for Paige Hartfield, who drew the two-out walk to bring home a run.

South Carolina ended things in the fifth with consecutive bases given with the bases loaded. Senior leftfielder Kaitlin Westfall got hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to score senior pinch-runner Kylie Morin, while Childs drew a walk to force home Milks to close the contest.

Gamecock redshirt junior Audrey Broyles (2-1) captured the win, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks in four innings of work. Natalie Becker (2-3) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up four earned runs on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.

South Carolina hosts the Gamecock Invitational this weekend at Beckham Field, bringing in Appalachian State, Elon, George Washington and Presbyterian for the event. The Garnet and Black challenge the Elon Phoenix in the final game on Friday, with first pitch slated for 5 p.m.