April 3, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Behind 2-for-3 nights from senior shortstop Samie Garcia and sophomore centerfielder Kristen Struett, South Carolina (19-14) defeated Appalachian State (15-13) in front of 967 fans on Wednesday evening at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field, marking the first victory for the Gamecocks in their new facility.
Garcia scored twice and added her seventh triple of the year, tying her for the NCAA Division 1 lead. Struett had two RBI and scored a run. Freshman left fielder Alaynie Page scored a run and drove in another, while junior second baseman Dana Hathorn scored as well.
The Gamecocks got on the board in the first on Struett’s two-RBI single, scoring Garcia and Page. Hathorn also scored on the play when the throw to third sailed from the Mountaineer centerfielder. Struett scored on a wild pitch two pitches later, giving South Carolina a 4-0 lead.
It took four more innings before South Carolina added to its lead. Garcia led off the fifth with a triple, the first by a Gamecock in Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field, and scored on Page’s sacrifice fly, handing the Gamecocks a 5-0 advantage.
Gamecock redshirt sophomore Julie Sarratt (3-2) got the win, tossing five shutout innings, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out four. ASU’s Shivaun Landeros (6-5) took the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits and a walk. She also struck out four.
South Carolina continues the home stand with a three-game series against No. 21/20 Kentucky. First pitch on Friday night is set for 7 p.m. against the Wildcats.
