March 23, 2012
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
March 23, 2012
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| LSU | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Highlights |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Spotted five runs in the first two innings, LSU (21-8, 5-1 SEC) didn’t look back, winning by the same score over South Carolina (19-14, 2-7 SEC) on a rainy Friday night at Beckham Field.
The Tigers started quickly after a near three-hour delay that came right after the national anthem at the scheduled 6 p.m. start. A.J. Andrews led off the contest with a walk, and Jacee Blades had a single that put both into scoring position when Andrews got around the tag at third. An illegal pitch let Andrews trot home with the first run, while Blades scored on Ashley Langoni’s sacrifice fly.
LSU tacked on three more in the second, with Andrews singling home Morgan Russell and Blades doubling in both Andrews and Dylan Supak, making it 5-0 Tigers after two.
Tiger junior starter Rachele Fico (10-4) took over from there, fanning 10 while scattering four hits and a walk in the complete-game shutout. Gamecock freshman hurler Katelynn Howser shut down the Tiger offense over the last 5.2 innings, striking out three while giving up three hits and two walks in the scoreless relief appearance. Senior Kierstyn White (6-7) took the loss for the Gamecocks, giving up all five earned runs on five hits and two walks in 1.1 innings.
South Carolina got two hits each from senior centerfielder Lauren Lackey and sophomore second baseman Dana Hathorn. Hathorn had a double in the seventh, the only Gamecock runner to get into scoring position. Four Tigers had two hits, including Andrews, Blades and Supak. Both Blades and Supak had doubles.
The rain delay lasted 2:56, pushing back the first pitch to nearly 9 p.m.
Game two of the series between the Gamecocks and Tigers is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.
