March 2, 2012
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – South Carolina (13-4) had its bats awaken in the sixth to come back and take a 2-1 win over Portland State (7-9) in the Friday’s first game in the Highlander Classic at Amy S. Harrison Field.
The Gamecocks fought back with two outs in the sixth. Senior left fielder Kaitlin Westfall crushed the first pitch of her at bat over the wall in left to tie the game at 1-1. Senior third baseman Evan Childs followed with a single to left. She stole second and moved to third on sophomore second baseman Dana Hathorn’s infield single. That brought up sophomore right fielder Chelsea Hawkins, who battled to a full count and poked a hit into left field to score Childs and give South Carolina the 2-1 lead.
The Vikings got on the board on a strange play in the second. Alicia Fine led off the inning with a double, and the Vikings attempted to move her to third on a bunt by Carly McEachran. But McEachran put down a beautiful bunt that got past two Gamecock defenders, allowing Fine to round third and score on the play. Portland State proceeded to load the bases in the inning, but a groundout and a strikeout ended the threat without any further damage.
Gamecock redshirt junior starter Audrey Broyles (3-1) took the win, tossing six innings and giving up one earned run on six hits and a walk. Freshman Katelynn Howser got her second save of the season, throwing a spotless seventh. Anna Bertrand (5-4) took the loss for the Vikings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks. She struck out four
Hathorn was the only Gamecock to get multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Westfall’s blast was her first homer of the season. Junior shortstop Samie Garcia had a single to start the game, extending her hitting streak to 16 games. McEachran and Becca Bliss both had two hits in the game for Portland State.
