Feb. 8, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina could not get much going to start its Saturday action, falling 5-2 to Ohio on the second day of the Carolina Classic at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
Ohio (3-0) took the early 2-0 lead with two down in the first. A walk to Casie Hutchinson started the rally, and Alexandria Basquez followed with a double to the gap in right center, scoring the first run. Madison Claytor followed with a shot off the wall in left, getting to third on the play and sending Basquez home to make it 2-0 after an inning.
The Gamecocks (1-1) cut the lead to one in the top of the third. Senior shortstop Codee Yeske led off the frame with a walk, and senior second baseman Dana Hathorn moved her to second with a bunt. A wild pitch sent Yeske to third, and the throw down got away from the Bobcat defense, letting Yeske score.
The same Ohio trio struck again in the third. Hutchinson drew her second walk, and Basquez followed up with a single to right with two outs. Claytor’s second hit of the contest cleared the wall in left center, handing Ohio the 5-1 advantage.
South Carolina cut into the lead again in the sixth when junior catcher Sarah Mooney scored on another Ohio error. Mooney reached with a single up the middle and stole second base, both firsts in her Gamecock career.
Ohio’s Savannah Jo Dorsey (2-0) tossed a complete game in the win, giving up two unearned runs on three hits and two walks while fanning 10. Redshirt junior Julie Sarratt (0-1) took the loss for South Carolina, allowing five earned runs on four hits and two walks in 2.2 innings. She struck out four.
The Bobcats’ Claytor went 2-for-4 with four RBI, a triple and a homer, while Basquez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a double. Gamecock sophomore left fielder Alaynie Page had a double, while Hathorn and Mooney also had hits for South Carolina.
