Feb. 22, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (9-2) showcased some strong offense to support freshman Nickie Blue’s first career shutout in a 9-0 win in five innings over Michigan State (3-7) in the Gamecocks’ first game on Saturday at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
Blue (7-1) scattered four hits and two walks over the five-inning shutout, striking out four. She got support from senior designated player Ashlyn Masters, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and two RBI. Junior catcher Sarah Mooney had a three-run homer that capped the scoring in the fourth, while freshman first baseman Kaylea Snaer went 1-for-3 with a two-run single. Sophomore left fielder Alaynie Page doubled, scored a run and drove in another, while senior right fielder Chelsea Hawkins scored twice, stole a base and drove in a run.
Masters and Page got the Gamecocks on the board in the first when Page followed Masters’ triple with a double to left. Hawkins made it 2-0 in the second with her RBI single that scored freshman Taylor Williams, who ran for Victoria Williams after she got hit by a pitch to start the frame. Masters doubled home Hawkins and junior centerfielder Kristen Struett to make it 4-0 in favor of South Carolina after two innings.
The Gamecocks claimed a 6-0 lead when Snaer singled home two runs in the fourth with the bases loaded and one out, and Mooney followed with a three-run blast over the protective screen in left, her fourth homer of the year.
Michigan State’s Kelly Smith (1-3) took the loss, giving up nine earned runs on six hits and three walks in four innings. McKinzie Freimuth, Sarah Gutknecht, Lindsey Besson and Stephanie Sanders all had singles for the Spartans
Georgetown beat UNC Wilmington 7-2 in the day’s first game, while Boston University took its first win of the year over Michigan State in the second game, 11-4.
