March 13, 2013
GREENVILLE, S.C. – A sixth-inning solo blast from junior second baseman Dana Hathorn lifted South Carolina (16-6) to a 6-5 win at Furman (9-12) in the second game on Wednesday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
Hathorn drove the 1-0 pitch over the wall in left with one down, giving South Carolina its final advantage. Other Gamecock hitters with big days included freshman designated player Ansley Ard going 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI and senior catcher Shelby Gonzales’ 2-for-2 outing with a two-run homer.
Furman took the 2-0 lead in the first when Natalie Clemmons launched one out to left, also driving home Sieara Bishop after she started the game with a walk. The Gamecocks tied it in the second on redshirt sophomore first baseman Julie Sarratt’s RBI single and junior pinch runner Brooke Barnhill’s run when she scored on a passed ball.
The Gamecocks held a 5-2 lead after three, with Ard driving in one with her single, plating junior right fielder Chelsea Hawkins. Gonzales came up next and hit the first pitch from reliever Shelby Parker out to left center, making it 5-2. The Paladins tied it in the fourth, the first scoring on a Gamecock error and the next two on junior Sarah Eidt’s two-RBI double.
Gamecock redshirt senior pitcher Audrey Broyles (5-2) came in after the Eidt double and silenced the Paladin bats, giving up two hits and a walk while fanning five in four innings out of the bullpen. Lauren Collier (3-5) took the loss for Furman, giving up one earned run on three hits and a walk in three innings of relief. Collier struck out three.
Hathorn also was hit by her ninth pitch of the year, setting a new single-season record at South Carolina in the 22nd game of the year. Clemmons went 2-for-4 for Furman, driving in two runs.
South Carolina opens Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field this weekend, hosting No. 4/6 Alabama. Friday night’s first pitch is set for 7 p.m. EDT.