March 8, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – Despite homers from senior catcher Shelby Gonzales and redshirt sophomore first baseman Julie Sarratt, South Carolina (13-4) could not hold off USF (12-10), as the Bulls won a 5-3 decision over the Gamecocks on Friday afternoon at USF Softball Stadium.
Gonzales went 2-for-3 with the solo blast, while Sarratt had a two-run shot for the Gamecocks. Senior shortstop Samie Garcia went 2-for-4 and stole a base, while four other Gamecocks had hits. Stephanie Medina led USF with a 2-for-3 day, getting a two-run homer and an RBI double. Mo Santos also had a homer in a 2-for-3 day for the Bulls.
The Bulls used a three-run fifth to take the final lead. Santos started the inning with a solo home run, tying the game at 3-3. Medina doubled home D’Anna Devine to give USF the lead, and Medina scored an insurance run on the next play after a Gamecock error.
Medina gave USF an initial 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first, plating Devine after she started the contest by being hit by a pitch.
South Carolina cut the lead in half with Gonzales’ monster shot out to left in the third and took the lead in the fourth on Sarratt’s two-out blast to center, scoring sophomore centerfielder Kristen Struett as well after she got a one-out hit.
The Bulls’ Sara Nevin (5-4) got the win in relief, throwing three shutout innings, giving up three hits and striking out two. Redshirt senior Audrey Broyles (4-2) took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits and a walk. She struck out two in 4.2 innings of work. Freshman Katie Marks allowed a hit and fanned one in 1.1 innings of relief for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina takes on Northwestern and Villanova on day two of the USF Under Armour Showcase, playing on Field 8 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Cleartwater, Fla. Saturday’s first pitch against the Big Ten’s Wildcats is set for 9:30 a.m. EST.
