Feb. 23, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore third baseman Jordan Bizzell, in her first career start, helped the Gamecocks (11-2) defeat UNC Wilmington (5-6) 2-1 on Sunday night to close the 2014 Gamecock Invitational at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
Bizzell led off the second with a walk and moved to second on an illegal pitch that was the last for UNC Wilmington starter Casey Rowland. Sophomore Ansley Ard singled through the left side to get Bizzell to third, and the duo pulled off the first-and-third double steal to tie the game at 1-1. Bizzell scored again after leading off the fourth with a hit by pitch. She stole second and touched home after Ard’s RBI single.
The sophomore also completed several good plays at the hot corner, including crashing into the railing near the stands to catch a foul ball while UNC Wilmington had two runners aboard in the third. She had a team-best seven assists and added two putouts.
The Seahawks scored in the first thanks in part to a Gamecock error. Brittany Gamby singled with one out and moved to second on a throwing error. A bunt single let Gamby advance to third, and she scored on a double steal when Merritt Wilkinson took second. The unearned run snapped a 29-inning scoreless streak for the Gamecocks.
UNC Wilmington threatened in the seventh to tie the game, getting a leadoff single from Morgan Ayers. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a groundout. But Gamecock freshman Nickie Blue induced a grounder to tally her second save of the year.
South Carolina’s Julie Sarratt (4-1) claimed the win, giving up one unearned run in four innings. She worked around four walks and two hits while striking out two. Blue fanned five in her three-inning save. Peyton Jordan (3-3) took the loss for the Seahawks, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks in six innings of relief.
Bizzell stole two bases and scored twice, while Ard went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and the game-winning RBI. Freshman Kaylea Snaer doubled in a 2-for-4 day, while senior Ashlyn Masters tripled to start the game for the Gamecocks.
In Sunday’s earlier action, Boston University beat Georgetown 6-3 in the day’s first game, while Michigan State downed the Hoyas 8-2. The Seahawks beat Gardner-Webb 12-2 in six innings
South Carolina hosts Western Carolina on Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader that begins at 3 p.m. Gametracker and live video will be available for both games from Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
