Feb. 22, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Behind another shutout from redshirt junior Julie Sarratt and freshman Nickie Blue, South Carolina (10-2) blanked Gardner-Webb (2-8) 7-0 in the Gamecocks’ final game of Saturday’s slate at the Gamecock Invitational.
The Gamecock pitching staff stretched its scoreless streak to 29 innings, one that started with the final three innings of the Florida Atlantic victory. Sarratt (3-1) fanned seven and only allowed one hit in her five innings of work, not walking a batter for the second-consecutive outing. Blue tossed two shutout innings in relief, giving up two seventh-inning hits and striking out one. The duo has helped the Gamecocks also post a 32-inning scoreless streak at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field, dating back to the Ohio game on the second day of the season.
Senior Codee Yeske started the Gamecocks’ scoring in the third. She walked on four pitches, stole second and went to third on a throwing error before scoring easily on senior Ashlyn Masters’ hit to center. With one down, Masters’ pinch runner, freshman Mackenzie Moler, scored on junior Sarah Mooney’s grounder that the Runnin’ Bulldogs mishandled. South Carolina loaded the bases in the inning, but Gardner-Webb’s Ashley Rhyne got a strikeout to end the jam.
Mooney made it 4-0 with her second homer of the day and fifth of the season, a two-run shot that cleared the left-field wall. That scored sophomore Ansley Ard, who pinch ran for freshman Kaylea Snaer after her leadoff single. Three more Gamecock runs crossed home in the sixth, one when Yeske scored on a passed ball and the second on Snaer’s RBI single, plating Masters. Snaer scored from first when GWU’s right fielder misplayed Mooney’s single.
Masters, Snaer and Mooney combined to go 6-for-11 with five RBI and both of the Gamecocks’ extra-base hits. Yeske also scored twice and walked twice in the game.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs Ashley Rhyne (0-5) took the loss, giving up seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and six walks in six innings. She struck out four. Kellie Beres, Megan Champion and Savannah Burns all had one hit for GWU.
South Carolina wraps up the Gamecock Invitational on Sunday against UNC Wilmington, with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m.
